Emancipation Day is a holiday that commemorates the abolition of slavery. It marks the day when enslaved people were freed, often associated with the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. This proclamation declared that all enslaved people in the Confederate states were to be set free. Different regions celebrate Emancipation Day on various dates. For example, in Washington, D.C., it is observed on April 16, marking the day in 1862 when Congress passed a law freeing enslaved people in the District. The day is often celebrated with parades, educational events, and community gatherings.