[hanamizu]

The Emancipation Proclamation took effect (such effect as it had) on January 1. So it already is a holiday.

Lincoln knew he didn’t have the power to end slavery via executive order. But as commander-in-chief he did have the power to deny states in rebellion of anything useful to their war effort. The Proclamation had no affect on Union slave states or places in the Confederacy already under Union control.

[FatherofFive]

The Emancipation Proclamation took effect (such effect as it had) on January 1. So it already is a holiday.

That solves it, then. Celebrate the New Year AND freeing the Slaves! Happy New Year!