Patriots' Day is a public holiday celebrated on the third Monday in April. It is officially observed in the U.S. states of Massachusetts and Maine. Additionally, it is recognized as a public school holiday in Wisconsin and Connecticut, although state offices remain open in those states.
The date commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War, which took place on April 19, 1775. The holiday was originally proclaimed in Massachusetts in 1894 and was observed on the fixed date of April 19. In 1969, as part of a legislative move to create more three-day weekends, Massachusetts shifted the observance to the third Monday of April. Maine, which was part of Massachusetts until 1820, later followed suit and also observes the holiday on this date.
The modern observance of the day is marked by several prominent events, most notably the Boston Marathon, which has been held on Patriots' Day annually since 1897. The day also features historical reenactments of the battles at Lexington Green and the Old North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts, as well as parades and other civic ceremonies celebrating the start of the American Revolution.
