Prior to its official establishment as a state holiday in Massachusetts in 1894, Patriots' Day did not have a single, formal name. The historical events it commemoratesthe Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775were observed through separate, localized traditions. The central noun in the query refers to the holiday's title, and its history is a transition from multiple local proper nouns to one official one.
For over a century, the anniversary was primarily celebrated under two different names, corresponding to the locations of the key battles. In the town of Lexington, the commemoration was known as Lexington Day. Simultaneously, the neighboring town of Concord observed the occasion as Concord Day. These were distinct, community-specific remembrances rather than a unified, statewide holiday. The move to create a formal holiday arose from a desire to consolidate these separate traditions and to replace Fast Day, an archaic Puritan holiday, with a more civic and historical observance.
The adoption of the name "Patriots' Day" was a deliberate choice to provide a more inclusive and encompassing title. Instead of focusing on a single town's role, the new name honored all the coloniststhe patriotsfrom various towns who rose in opposition to the British forces on that day. This shift from "Lexington Day" or "Concord Day" to "Patriots' Day" reflects a broader historical interpretation, celebrating the collective spirit and shared sacrifice that marked the beginning of the American Revolution.
