Patriots' Day is not a federal government holiday in the United States. Its official recognition is at the state level, where it is a legal holiday only in Massachusetts and Maine. In Wisconsin, it is designated as a public school holiday. Consequently, federal government offices, including the U.S. Postal Service and federal banks, remain open nationwide on this day.
The distinction arises from its historical context. Patriots' Day commemorates the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first armed conflicts of the American Revolutionary War, which took place on April 19, 1775, in Massachusetts. Due to this deep regional significance, the state governments of Massachusetts and Maine have legislated it as an official holiday, observed on the third Monday in April. On this day, state, county, and municipal offices in these states are closed, as are many schools and some private businesses.
For individuals and businesses outside of Massachusetts and Maine, the day has no legal standing as a public holiday. Its observance is a specific regional practice rather than a national commemoration. Therefore, while it is a significant government holiday for the citizens of those particular states, it does not affect government operations or business schedules for the rest of the country.
