Earlier quoted context omitted.
It commemorates emancipation for slaves in the US, and I would say most people didn't know about it until last year or so.
President Biden made it a federal holiday last year. I work in manufacturing and I haven’t met many companies that are taking it off. I had hoped it would immediately be a paid holiday for most folks, but I think it’s going to take a few years to get to that point.
Here it would mean a paid day off but based on your comment that's not the case.