Patriots' Day is not a federal holiday in the United States. It is an official state holiday recognized in Massachusetts and Maine, with public school observances in Wisconsin. The day commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which were the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War in 1775.
Federal holidays are designated by the U.S. Congress and apply to all federal employees and institutions across the country. State holidays, conversely, are established by individual state legislatures and are only officially observed within the borders of that state. Because the historical events commemorated by Patriots' Day occurred in and are of primary significance to New England, its recognition has remained at the state level. It is celebrated on the third Monday in April.
The practical implication is that outside of the states where it is officially observed, it is a regular business day. Federal institutions, such as the U.S. Postal Service and federally regulated banks, operate on a normal schedule nationwide. The status of the day demonstrates how certain historical events with profound regional importance are commemorated at the state level rather than through a national federal observance.
