Juneteenth’s history and meaning explained by African American Civil War Museum director
Frank Smith, director of the African American Civil War Museum, explains the origin of Juneteenth and its journey to becoming a national holiday.
Josh Morgan, USA TODAY
United States stock markets will be closed on Wednesday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth.
The Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange will be closed Wednesday and reopen Thursday, June 20. The U.S. bond market will also be closed on June 19, according to the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.
While most restaurants, grocery and retail stores will be open on the holiday, banks and the United States Postal Service will also be closed.
Juneteenth, known as American’s Second Independence Day, has been commemorated as a federally-recognized holiday since 2021, providing millions of Americans with a paid day off and the opportunity to commemorate the end of slavery.
The holiday commemorates the day when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas in 1865 with 2,000 Union troops to proclaim that more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were free – two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863.
After closing for Juneteenth, it will be business as usual on Wall Street until early July. The next scheduled stock market closure is on Thursday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.
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United States stock market 2024 holiday schedule
Markets will be closed for the following holidays:
- Juneteenth: Wednesday, June 19
- Independence Day: Thursday, July 4 (markets also close at 1 p.m. ET on July 3)
- Labor Day: Monday, Sept. 2
- Thanksgiving: Thursday, Nov. 28 (markets also close at 1 p.m. ET on Nov. 29)
- Christmas: Wednesday, Dec. 25 (markets also close at 1 p.m. ET on Dec. 24)
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at [email protected].
Barbara Terrio is a seasoned business journalist, delving into the world of finance, startups, and entrepreneurship. With a knack for demystifying complex economic trends, she helps readers navigate the business landscape. Outside of her reporting, Barbara is an advocate for financial literacy and enjoys mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs.
