This New Year's Eve, join the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor NHA and community partners for their annual daytime “Freedom’s Eve: A Gullah Geechee Watch Night and Emancipation Day Celebration.” Bring in the new year while reflecting on the importance of commemorating the date of January 1, 1863 when enslaved people in the Lowcountry, the Sea Islands, and throughout the United States emerged from bondage as a result of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.
Commonly referred to as Watch Night, this annual event marks the pivotal moment on December 31, 1862, when individuals gathered in sacred spaces to await the Emancipation Proclamation—the decree that declared freedom for those enslaved in Confederate territories effective January 1, 1863. Known as Freedom’s Eve, this nearly 160-year-old tradition continues to resonate as a time of reflection, celebration, and cultural pride.
To commemorate this historic tradition, a hybrid event will be held at the historic Morris Brown AME Church (13 Morris Street) in Charleston. Attendees will experience a vibrant showcase of Gullah Geechee heritage through performances by The Plantation Singers of Charleston, renowned storyteller Jennifaye Singleton of Huger, and the energetic Wona Womalan African Dance and Drum ensemble.
“Group Drumming”- Deninufay African Dance Co., Freedom’s Eve Charleston 2022
The event will be hosted by Troy McClain, Faith-Based Education Manager at the International African American Museum. A coalition of sponsors, including the International African American Museum, the Emancipation Proclamation Association of Charleston, and the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, supports this commemorative event.
Watch Night services are a long-standing tradition within the Gullah Geechee community, held annually to honor Freedom’s Eve and its profound significance. For nearly 160 years, these gatherings have symbolized resilience, faith, and the triumph of freedom over oppression. Churches and community members across the Corridor are encouraged to participate and explore the rich history behind this cherished tradition.
The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor is a National Heritage Area managed by the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission. The purpose of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor NHA is to preserve, share and interpret the history, traditional cultural practices, heritage sites, and natural resources associated with Gullah Geechee people of coastal North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. The Corridor’s Management Plan provides a comprehensive blueprint for how to meet the Corridor’s goals and realize its mission and vision. It provides a framework for implementation, a flexible guide for capitalizing on opportunities as they become known and actionable through partnership agreements and funding. Implementation is undertaken with the utmost flexibility and adaptation to changing circumstances, partners, funding sources, and successes.
