The name directly honors the American colonial militiamen, known as "Patriots," who fought against British regular troops on April 19, 1775. The holiday commemorates the first armed engagements of the American Revolutionary Warthe Battles of Lexington and Concordand celebrates the courage and resolve of these colonists who initiated the fight for American independence.
The historical events giving the holiday its name began when British forces marched from Boston to seize a cache of colonial arms and ammunition stored in Concord. Warned by the rides of Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott, Patriot minutemen mobilized to intercept them. The first skirmish occurred at dawn on Lexington Green, followed by a more significant confrontation at the North Bridge in Concord, where colonial forces successfully engaged and repelled the British troops. The term "Patriot" identified colonists who supported the cause of independence, and the holiday's name specifically memorializes their actions on this pivotal day.
By designating the holiday "Patriots' Day," the commemoration emphasizes the agency and ideals of the citizen-soldiers themselves, rather than focusing solely on the locations of the battles. It frames the observance around the identity of the people who took the first stand for self-governance. Officially a state holiday in Massachusetts, Maine, and several other states, it is marked by historical reenactments and civic events, including the Boston Marathon, which reinforce the themes of endurance and liberty embodied by the original Patriots.
