The term "Patriots' Day" functions as a proper noun. It is the specific name of a civic holiday observed on the third Monday of April in the U.S. states of Massachusetts and Maine. The holiday 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.
As a proper noun, "Patriots' Day" names a unique entity, distinguishing it from a common noun like "holiday." The grammatical construction consists of the plural possessive noun "Patriots'," which acts as an adjective modifying the noun "Day." Syntactically, the entire two-word phrase operates as a single noun unit. This classification dictates that both words must be capitalized. The observance was originally fixed on April 19 but was later moved to the third Monday in April to create a three-day weekend, a change aligning with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act's principles.
Understanding its classification as a proper noun is crucial for correct grammatical usage and underscores its significance. The name directly links the day to the specific historical figures it honorsthe American patriots of the Revolutionary War. This designation also contextualizes its cultural importance, particularly in New England, where it is associated with major events like the running of the Boston Marathon and a traditional morning Boston Red Sox baseball game at Fenway Park, reinforcing its status as a distinct and officially recognized day.
