Patriots' Day is a state holiday in Massachusetts observed on the third Monday in April.
The holiday commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first armed conflicts of the American Revolutionary War, which occurred on April 19, 1775. Initially, the observance was fixed to April 19th each year. However, in 1969, Massachusetts state law changed the date to the third Monday of the month, aligning it with federal guidelines for creating three-day weekends.
In modern practice, the day is marked by numerous public events, most notably the running of the Boston Marathon, which has been held on Patriots' Day since 1897. Historical reenactments of the battles and related events also take place in Lexington, Concord, and surrounding areas, providing a public commemoration of the historical significance of the date.
