The term "Patriots' Day" functions grammatically as a proper noun. As a multi-word phrase, it operates as a single nominal unit to name a specific, unique entityin this case, a public holiday. The head of the phrase is the noun "Day," which is modified by "Patriots'." The word "Patriots'" is a possessive plural noun that specifies the day's association, indicating it is the day of the patriots. In common usage where the apostrophe is omitted ("Patriots Day"), the word "Patriots" acts as a noun adjunct, a noun used to describe another noun. In either form, the entire phrase serves as a proper noun, the formal name of the observance.
This proper noun refers to a civic holiday commemorating the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War, which took place on April 19, 1775. The holiday is officially observed on the third Monday in April in the states of Massachusetts and Maine. It is also an official public holiday in Connecticut (since 2018) and a public school observance day in Wisconsin (since 2001). The day is famously associated with the Boston Marathon, which has been run on Patriots' Day annually since 1897, making it a significant cultural and sporting event in addition to its historical commemoration.
Understanding "Patriots' Day" as a proper noun is essential for its correct application in writing and discourse. This classification dictates that the term must be capitalized to distinguish it from a generic description (e.g., "a day for patriots"). Its function as a specific name provides a direct reference to a singular event with a defined historical, cultural, and legal context. This grammatical identity ensures clarity and precision, signaling to the reader that the reference is not to a general concept but to a particular, officially recognized day of observance.
