Patriots' Day is a proper noun referring to a civic holiday observed in several U.S. states, most notably Massachusetts and Maine. It is officially celebrated on the third Monday of April each year to commemorate the anniversary of the first battles of the American Revolutionary War.
The observance marks the historical events of April 19, 1775: the Battles of Lexington and Concord. These engagements were the initial armed conflicts between the Kingdom of Great Britain and its thirteen colonies in North America. The holiday specifically honors the midnight rides of Paul Revere and William Dawes, who alerted colonial minutemen to the approach of British forces, and the subsequent skirmishes that began the fight for American independence.
In modern practice, the holiday is marked by a wide range of civic events, including historical reenactments of the battles, parades, and commemorative ceremonies, particularly in the towns of Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts. The most prominent contemporary event associated with the day is the Boston Marathon, an internationally renowned long-distance race that has been held on this day annually since 1897, drawing participants and spectators from around the world.
