What foods are served on Juneteenth and why is it important?

As for red drinks, red drinks at Juneteenth celebrations have roots in two native West African plants: the kola nut and hibiscus. White or red kola nuts are served as snacks, as a water purifier, and steeped for tea. Hibiscus flowers are brewed into reddish-purple bissap tea.

What food is traditionally served on Juneteenth?

Well first, since it's a warm weather celebration, Juneteenth food traditions often include cookout fare like barbecued meats, potato salad and fruity or frozen desserts. You'll also see lots of traditional soul food dishes like fried chicken, cornbread and collard greens.

What types of special foods are served on Juneteenth What is the importance of this?

Red sodas, watermelon, and other red foods are popular on Juneteenth. The red color symbolizes the struggle, perseverance, and resilience of the African slaves. BBQ and traditional soul food dishes like fried chicken, red velvet cake, macaroni and cheese, collard greens are also served on Juneteenth.

Why is red food eaten on 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.

What is the significance of strawberry soda for 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.

Why Juneteenth Food Traditions Include Hot Links, Red Drinks and Dishes

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 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.

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.

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 a popular drink associated with celebrating 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.

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.”

How are we supposed to celebrate Juneteenth?

For some, it's eating barbecue, shooting fireworks, gathering at a cookout and sipping on red drinks, a tradition that symbolizes perseverance and honors the blood that was shed of African-Americans. For others, it's shopping only at black-owned businesses, sharing history or resting at home.

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 is the period after Juneteenth known as?

Fact #4: The period after Juneteenth is known as the 'Scatter. ' Undeterred by the recommendation to remain in place, many former slaves left the area during the original reading.

What are the colors of Juneteenth?

The official Juneteenth flag was red, white and blue displaying that all American slaves and their decendants were Americans. However, many in the black community have adopted the Pan-African flag, red black and green. The colors represent the blood, soil and prosperity of africa and its people.

What are 3 facts about Juneteenth?

What is the most important thing about Juneteenth?

Juneteenth, or “Freedom Day” is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. This holiday is considered the “longest running African-American holiday” and has been called “America's second Independence Day.” It was on June 19, 1865, that Union soldiers, led by Maj. Gen.

Why are Juneteenth colors red black and green?

It included the declaration that red, black and green (or RBG) be the colors signifying the African race. Those three colors represent the blood, soil and prosperity of Africa and its people, according to the Pan-African Alliance.

What is Juneteenth Black History?

What is Juneteenth? On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas. He informed the enslaved African Americans of their freedom and that the Civil War had ended. This momentous occasion has been celebrated as Juneteenth — a combination of June and 19 — for over 150 years.

How do you explain Juneteenth to a child?

“Juneteenth is a day to celebrate that our ancestors fought to be liberated. It's a time to celebrate their power, brilliance and tenacity.” “Juneteenth is a day to celebrate that our ancestors fought to be liberated. It's a time to celebrate their power, brilliance and tenacity.”

Why is it called Juneteenth instead of June 19th?

Juneteenth is a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. It is also called Emancipation Day or Juneteenth Independence Day. The name “Juneteenth” references the date of the holiday, combining the words “June” and “nineteenth.”

How do you celebrate Juneteenth as an ally 2021?

What does red velvet cake have to do with slavery?

But the cake is an important part of Juneteenth parties, where red food is served ostensibly to symbolize the blood shed during slavery and in the Civil War. The June 19 celebrationmarks the date in 1865 when slaves in Texas found out they had been freed.

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.