Patriots' Day is observed annually on the third Monday in April. The key term of the inquiry, "Patriots' Day," functions as a proper noun, as it is the specific name of a unique public holiday. This grammatical classification is the main point because it designates a formal, recognized commemoration rather than a general concept. The holiday is officially recognized in Massachusetts, Maine, and Wisconsin to commemorate the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War.
Initially, the holiday was observed on April 19, the actual anniversary of the 1775 battles. However, in 1969, Massachusetts state law changed the observance to the third Monday in April, aligning with a broader legislative trend to create three-day weekends. Maine, historically part of Massachusetts, also adopted this floating date. In Wisconsin, it is recognized as a statewide public school holiday but not a legal holiday for all purposes. While some other states, like Connecticut and Florida, give token observance, it is not an official public holiday there.
The practical application of this floating date is most famously demonstrated by the Boston Marathon, which has been traditionally held on Patriots' Day since 1897. Therefore, the date of the holiday, and consequently the marathon, changes each year but always falls on a Monday. This scheduling highlights the holiday's regional significance and its role as a civic and cultural event, particularly in New England, distinct from its historical military commemoration.
