Why do we 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.

Why strawberry soda and red velvet cake on Juneteenth?

The practice of eating red foods—red cake, barbecue, punch and fruit– may owe its existence to the enslaved Yoruba and Kongo brought to Texas in the 19^th century. For both of these cultures the color red is the embodiment of spiritual power and transformation.

What is the official drink of Juneteenth?

Red Hibiscus Drink

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. Be careful though, hibiscus flowers are like dye so things can get messy!

Why should I drink something red 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 is one special drink often found at Juneteenth celebrations?

Red hibiscus drink (hibiscus tea) is a popular drink still made in West Africa today. However, since hibiscus flowers to make tea have not always been easily accessible in the U.S. Easy to get strawberry soda became a red drink staple for celebrating Juneteenth.

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What did the slaves eat on Juneteenth?

Africans brought their homeland traditions with them, which manifested itself through food and generations of Juneteenth celebrations. Think: red beverages like strawberry sodas and hibiscus tea, or red velvet cake and red beans and rice.

What is the flavor of Juneteenth?

The Celebration Edition: Juneteenth Ice Cream was released under Walmart's Great Value brand and is a mix of red velvet and cheesecake flavored ice creams. "Share and celebrate African American culture, emancipation and enduring hope," the original container of the frozen treat said.

What are the four 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 the real Juneteenth colors?

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 did slaves drink?

Palm wine and beer made from barley, guinea corn, or millet were used widely. The alcoholic content of these beverages is less than 3% (Umunna, 1967). For the most part the drinking of beer and wine was one of acceptance without moral or immoral implications.

Is Juneteenth a black celebration?

Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. On June 17, 2021, it officially became a federal holiday.

What are some Juneteenth traditions?

Music, dancing, and games — like dominoes, bid whist, and spades — round out some festivities. Serving red drinks, which symbolizes perseverance and honors the blood that was shed by our ancestors, is another Juneteenth tradition.

Is red velvet cake a black thing?

Nor is it historically a cake that sprang from the African-American table. 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.

What does red velvet have to do with Juneteenth?

According to Adrian Lipscombe, red velvet cake's relationship to Juneteenth stems from its red color, which became popular in the 20th century after a specific red food coloring brand became the popular choice for tinting the cake. “The red color it is today was given credit to Adams Extract, a Texas company.

Does Chick Fil A Celebrate Juneteenth?

The answer to this will depend on which day you are referring to. Juneteenth is officially Sunday, June 19, but due to falling on a Sunday, is being observed on Monday, June 20. If you want to know if the chicken chain is open on June 19, the answer is no. But that's because Chick-fil-A is closed every Sunday.

What does blue Juneteenth mean?

"The design of the Juneteenth flag depicts a bursting new star on the horizon. The star represents a new freedom, a new people, a new star. The red, white and blue colors communicate that the American Slaves, and their descendants were all Americans."

Which flag is the Juneteenth flag?

Many in the African American community have adopted the Pan-African flag to represent Juneteenth. The Pan-African flag is sometimes referred to as the black liberation flag and so it is often displayed in conjunction or in place of the Juneteenth flag. The Pan-African flag has been in use since 1920.

Is there a Juneteenth flag?

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 flowers for Juneteenth?

Poppy Commemorates Juneteenth | Poppy Flowers.

What do you wear for Juneteenth?

A common theme is dressing in red, white, and blue to highlight the “Independence Day for Black folks” vibe of the holiday.

Why is Juneteenth black red green?

The official Juneteenth flag was red, white, and blue displaying that all American slaves and their descendants 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 color is Juneteenth ice cream?

The ice cream comes in a red-velvet swirl with cheesecake flavor in a packaging with African colors and Black hands giving a high-five, with the messaging, "Share and celebrate African-American culture, emancipation and enduring hope." The ice cream is nearly identical to one sold at Walmart by a Black-owned brand, ...

Why did Walmart stop selling Juneteenth?

Walmart pulled its "Juneteenth" themed ice cream from shelves after facing backlash online, with some accusing the company of profiting off the holiday. A pint of Juneteenth Great Value Ice Cream sold at a Walmart in Portland, Texas.

Why is Walmart pulling ice cream?

Walmart pulled its own Great Value brand Juneteenth ice cream, following backlash online. Critics called for the ice cream to be removed, “accusing the company of capitalizing on Juneteenth to sell products and questioned what it was doing to support the Black community,” according to Newsweek.

What did slaves eat the most?

Faunal remains in excavations have confirmed that livestock such as pigs and cows were the principal components of slaves' meat diets. Other sites show remnants of wild species such as opossum, raccoon, snapping turtle, deer, squirrel, duck, and rabbit.