Patriots' Day is a state holiday in Massachusetts observed on the third Monday in April. It commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which were the first armed conflicts of the American Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775. The holiday is also an official observance in Maine and Wisconsin.
Initially celebrated on the fixed date of April 19, the observance was shifted to the third Monday in April by Massachusetts state law in 1969 to create a three-day weekend. The day is marked by numerous historical and cultural events. These include reenactments of the battles in the towns of Lexington and Concord, Paul Revere's ride, and the annual running of the Boston Marathon, which has been held on Patriots' Day since 1897.
This regional holiday should not be confused with the national observance of Patriot Day, which is held on September 11 to remember the victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks. Patriots' Day in Massachusetts specifically honors the beginning of the American fight for independence and remains a day of significant historical and civic importance within the Commonwealth.
