The applicability of the adjective "scary" to the proper noun "Patriots Day" is entirely dependent on context. The term can refer to three distinct things: a civic holiday, a specific historical event, or a film. The holiday itself is not frightening; it is a celebration of American history. However, the association with fear arises from the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, a terrifying event that occurred on Patriots' Day, and the subsequent 2016 dramatic thriller film that shares the name.
Historically, Patriots' Day is a civic holiday observed in Massachusetts, Maine, and Wisconsin, commemorating the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first engagements of the American Revolutionary War. Its traditional observance involves historical reenactments, parades, and celebratory events like the Boston Marathon. In this context, the holiday is a festive, community-oriented occasion. The adjective "scary" does not apply to these traditions. The perception changed on April 15, 2013, when a terrorist bombing occurred near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. This event was an act of violence that resulted in death, injury, and widespread fear, making the memory of that specific day traumatic and frightening. Furthermore, the 2016 film Patriots Day is a docudrama thriller that graphically depicts the bombing and the intense, suspenseful manhunt for the perpetrators. The film is intentionally designed to be tense, unsettling, and emotionally jarring, and therefore the viewing experience can be accurately described as scary.
In conclusion, Patriots' Day as a civic institution is not scary. The fear and trauma associated with the name are a direct result of the 2013 bombing. Therefore, the adjective "scary" correctly describes the real-world terrorist attack and the cinematic depiction of it, but not the holiday in its historical and traditional sense. The distinction between the holiday, the historical event, and the media portrayal is crucial to understanding why the term might evoke feelings of fear.
