The term "Patriots' Day" functions as a proper noun. It names a specific American civic holiday, observed in several states, that commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the initial armed engagements of the American Revolutionary War, which occurred on April 19, 1775.
The historical events central to the holiday include the midnight rides of Paul Revere and William Dawes, who were dispatched to warn colonial militias of the approaching British forces. The British Army's objective was to seize a cache of military supplies stored by the Massachusetts militia in Concord. The conflict began with "the shot heard 'round the world" on Lexington Green, initiating the war for American independence. The holiday is officially celebrated on the third Monday in April in Massachusetts, Maine, and Wisconsin, a modern adjustment from the original April 19th date to create a three-day weekend.
In contemporary observance, the day is most widely associated with the Boston Marathon, which has been held annually on Patriots' Day since 1897. The holiday also features historical reenactments of the battles, particularly in the towns of Lexington and Concord, along with parades and other civic ceremonies. It serves as a regional commemoration of the first step toward American independence and an affirmation of civic duty and preparedness.
