Watch Night dates back to December 31, 1862, a day known as Freedom's Eve, a powerful testament to the unwavering hope of enslaved Black people who gathered in churches and homes nationwide, fervently praying and anxiously awaiting midnight. Their hearts were fixed on the promise of freedom, wondering if the Emancipation Proclamation would indeed become law. As the clock struck midnight on January 1, 1863, freedom's declaration resounded, and jubilation erupted. Tears of joy streamed down faces, prayers of thanksgiving ascended to heaven, and shouts of praise echoed through the night as people prostrated themselves before God, grateful for deliverance and the gift of a brighter future. Since that momentous night, people of color, particularly in the Black Church, have perpetuated this sacred tradition, gathering on New Year's Eve to express heartfelt gratitude to God for navigating them through another year, acknowledging that while the struggle for freedom has persisted, so has their unwavering resilience.
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