Patriots' Day is a state holiday observed on the third Monday in April in Massachusetts and Maine. It commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which took place on April 19, 1775, and marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War.
The observance was originally fixed to the specific date of April 19th. However, in 1969, Massachusetts moved the holiday to the third Monday of April to create a three-day weekend, a practice Maine also follows. While strongly associated with New England, it is only an official public holiday in these two states. Other states in the region, such as Connecticut and New Hampshire, may hold commemorations but do not recognize it as a legal holiday. Wisconsin also observes the day, but primarily as a special observance day in public schools.
The scheduling of the holiday on a Monday has practical and cultural significance. It is most famously known as the date of the Boston Marathon, which has been held on Patriots' Day since 1897. The day is also marked by numerous historical reenactments, parades, and a traditional morning home game for the Boston Red Sox, making it a major civic event in the region.
