Patriots' Day is not exclusively a holiday in Massachusetts. It is also an official state holiday in Maine, where it is observed with the same historical significance. The commemoration marks the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first armed conflicts of the American Revolutionary War.
The shared observance stems from historical ties, as Maine was part of Massachusetts until it achieved statehood in 1820. Both states legally observe the holiday on the third Monday in April. While not an official public holiday elsewhere, the day holds significance in other states. Wisconsin, for example, designates it as a special observance day for public schools. Furthermore, informal commemorations and historical reenactments occur in other locations, such as Connecticut and Florida, though without the status of a state-recognized holiday.
The practical application of the holiday is most prominent in Massachusetts and Maine, where state, county, and municipal offices close. The day is famously associated with the running of the Boston Marathon, an event that has been held on Patriots' Day since 1897. The regional focus of the holiday allows for unique cultural and historical events, including reenactments on the Lexington Battle Green and at the Old North Bridge in Concord, which draw significant public attention to the origins of the American Revolution.
