The central component of the search query, "Patriots' Day," functions as a proper noun. This holiday is officially observed on the third Monday in April in Massachusetts and Maine. In the current year, Patriots' Day falls on Monday, April 15, 2024.
Patriots' Day commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War, which occurred on April 19, 1775. While originally celebrated on the fixed date of April 19, Massachusetts changed its observance to the third Monday in April in 1969 to create a three-day weekend. The holiday is also culturally significant as the day of the annual Boston Marathon, an event that has been held on Patriots' Day since 1897.
The date of Patriots' Day is therefore variable, determined by its designation as the third Monday of a specific month rather than a fixed calendar date. While it is a statutory holiday only in a few states, its historical significance is national. Other states, such as Wisconsin, recognize the day as a public school observance, though it is not a legal holiday. Consequently, activities like school and government office closures are localized to the states where it holds official status.
