Secular Holidays in June

Juneteenth

Also known as Freedom Day, this is the day Union General Gordon Granger proclaimed Texas to be free of slavery on June 19, 1865. Although the Emancipation Proclamation was signed two years prior, it was not enforced in many of the southern states, including Texas.

Many Black people in America consider this holiday to be their Independence Day and is considered to be the “longest-running African-American holiday”. Juneteenth is celebrated every June on the third Saturday.

World Humanist Day

World Humanist Day occurs on June 21st and was developed in the 1980s by chapters of the American Humanist Association (AHA). The AHA and the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) decided World Humanist Day would fall on the northern summer solstice.

Today World Humanist Day is celebrated around the world with activities and events. It is a time for humanist to reflect on values of humanism.

Summer Solstice

Summer Solstice is the when the Earth’s poles tilt the most towards the Sun – it falls between June 20th and 22nd, depending on the shift of the calendar. Summer Solstice is recognized and celebrated in many cultures with rituals and festivals.