Patriots' Day is a state holiday observed on the third Monday in April. It is officially celebrated in Massachusetts, Maine, and Connecticut, and is a public school holiday in Wisconsin.
The date was chosen to commemorate the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which took place on April 19, 1775, marking the start of the American Revolutionary War. Originally, the holiday was observed on the fixed date of April 19. However, in 1969, Massachusetts moved the observance to the third Monday of the month to create a three-day weekend, a practice that other observing states have also adopted.
The modern observance of the holiday is strongly associated with the Boston Marathon, an athletic event that has been held on this day since 1897. Other key events include historical reenactments of the battles and of Paul Revere's ride, particularly in the towns of Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, which draw numerous participants and spectators to honor the historical significance of the date.
