What flavor soda was once a popular drink associated with celebrating the day Juneteenth?

Strawberry soda is a common feature of the Juneteenth holiday as a nod to the celebrations of slaves in Galveston, Texas, who on June 19, 1865, learned they were free. Those celebrations, according to the Journal Sentinel story, included red food and beverages “to symbolize the blood that was shed by the slaves.”

What is the official drink of Juneteenth?

Red Hibiscus Drink

Hibiscus flowers are native to West Africa, and hibiscus drink or 'tea' is a popular drink still made there today. It's been a part of Juneteenth celebrations since the beginning and it's tangy flavor comes to life when you boil the hibiscus flowers for about 10 mins and add ice and sugar to taste.

Why do they drink strawberry soda on Juneteenth?

A traditional drink to serve at a Juneteenth celebration is Strawberry Soda. This drink along with other red foods and beverages symbolizes the bloodshed of the slaves, and pays homage to their sacrifice that led African Americans to the freedom that they have today.

What flavor of soda pop is a popular drink associated with celebrating Juneteenth?

Many people often celebrate Juneteenth by having a barbecue and drinking red strawberry soda. When the slaves were freed, they celebrated by drinking red soda, a luxury that they hadn't been able to have as slaves. So it has since become a tradition to drink red soda on Juneteenth.

What does red soda have to do with Juneteenth?

The color red is said to represent the blood shed throughout enslavement, and some say it traces back to parts of West Africa where red drinks marked special occasions and red is symbolic of spiritual power. With so many reasons to celebrate Juneteeth, what are you waiting for?

Juneteenth 1865-2022: The Pursuit of Economic Equality

What is red soda water?

Red Soda Water (and anything else that's red)

The classic color symbolizes blood lost during the struggle for emancipation or the hibiscus tea that was frequently drunk by slaves during celebrations, depending on who you talk to.

How red food and drink joined the Juneteenth feast?

Food coloring came to preeminence in the late 1800s, and by the 1920s, red-colored carbonated drinks like the Texas-made soda Big Red became part of Juneteenth culinary tradition. Whatever the origin of each item on the Juneteenth table, collectively, they hold a lot of symbolic meaning.

What is the significance of strawberry soda?

Strawberry soda is a common feature of the Juneteenth holiday as a nod to the celebrations of slaves in Galveston, Texas, who on June 19, 1865, learned they were free. Those celebrations, according to the Journal Sentinel story, included red food and beverages “to symbolize the blood that was shed by the slaves.”

What foods celebrate Juneteenth?

Is watermelon a Juneteenth food?

Common red foods seen at Juneteenth celebrations include red soda or lemonade, red velvet cake, and watermelon. (Plus barbecue and great sides.) History offers several explanations why Juneteenth food is often red.

What did Juneteenth slaves eat?

“In some places in Texas, Juneteenth was all about having goat. It was about the whole hog in some places, and in other places, it was about beef. And then, in some places, it could be all three.” Another essential addition to the Juneteenth culinary tradition is red drinks, a staple across the diaspora.

How do you celebrate Juneteenth?

Why is red velvet cake eaten on Juneteenth?

Known for its smooth soft texture and distinctively deep, rich red colour, The Red Velvet Cake is enjoyed by many. It is the most significant cake served on Emancipation Day, as it serves a reminder of the bloodshed and those who lost their lives during enslavement.

What are the colors of Juneteenth?

What do the flag's colors and symbols mean? You'll see that the Juneteenth flag uses the exact same colors as the United States's flag: red, white, and blue. This was intentional and meant to show that the formerly enslaved and their descendants are free Americans, too.

What flavor is Dr Pepper?

There are 23 ingredients to Dr Pepper – fans speculate that the flavors are amaretto, almond, blackberry, black licorice, caramel , carrot, clove, cherry, cola, ginger, juniper, lemon , molasses, nutmeg, orange, prune, plum, pepper, root beer, rum, raspberry, tomato and vanilla.

Why is Big Red only sold in Texas?

Until the 1970s, Big Red couldn't be found outside of Texas, Kentucky, and southern Indiana; today, it's distributed by Dr. Pepper, meaning those unlucky enough to live outside of Texas may not have to drive so far.

What flavor is big blue soda?

Big Blue is a variant of Big Red which is blue in color, similar to Crush Berry Punch. Its flavor is a Blue Creme. There was speculation from many people saying that the flavor tastes like cotton candy with a blue bubblegum feel.

Is red velvet cake black?

Red velvet cake is traditionally a red, red-brown, crimson, or scarlet-colored chocolate layer cake, layered with ermine icing. Traditional recipes do not use food coloring, with the red color due to non-Dutched, anthocyanin-rich cocoa. Common ingredients include buttermilk, butter, cocoa, vinegar, and flour.

What do the colors in the Juneteenth flag mean?

According to the president of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation Steve Williams, the star is a "Bursting star of freedom." Williams also states that the arch representing the horizon shows blue above and the red color below is symbolic of the ground soaked with blood; the blood which was shed by the African ...

What do red foods symbolize on Juneteenth?

Juneteenth gatherings customarily feature red foods, which are used to symbolize resilience and joy. Delectable strawberry pie, barbecue, red rice, watermelon, hot sauce, red velvet cake and red sausages on the grill are all abundant. But no celebration would ever be complete without Red Drink.

What can I say instead of Happy Juneteenth?

Just say 'Happy Juneteenth! ' The easiest way to wish someone a Happy Juneteenth is by messaging them and wishing them a fulfilled day. Similar to Black History Month, and other important anniversaries to Black Americans, it is important to acknowledge it as an American holiday, even if you do not celebrate it.

What should I wear to Juneteenth?

A common theme is dressing in red, white, and blue to highlight the “Independence Day for Black folks” vibe of the holiday. It's also a nod to the Juneteenth flag, which sports bright red and blue stripes and a bold white star overlay to represent the "new star" on the horizon for our community.

What does the Juneteenth flag look like?

The original Juneteenth flag was designed in 1997 by Ben Haith, activist and founder of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation. The flag has a blue and red stripe, a white star in the middle, an outline and an arc that extends across the width of the flag.

What did slaves drink?

in which slaves obtained alcohol outside of the special occasions on which their masters allowed them to drink it. Some female house slaves were assigned to brew cider, beer, and/or brandy on their plantations.

What food did the slaves eat?

Weekly food rations -- usually corn meal, lard, some meat, molasses, peas, greens, and flour -- were distributed every Saturday. Vegetable patches or gardens, if permitted by the owner, supplied fresh produce to add to the rations. Morning meals were prepared and consumed at daybreak in the slaves' cabins.