The keyword phrase "when was patriots day last year" functions as an interrogative clause, a type of sentence that asks a direct question. The central element and grammatical subject of the query is the proper noun "Patriots' Day." In the previous year, 2023, Patriots' Day was observed on Monday, April 17.
Patriots' Day is a state holiday officially observed in Massachusetts and Maine, always occurring on the third Monday in April. The date is not fixed to a specific number but is determined by this rule, causing it to fall between April 15th and April 21st each year. The holiday commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, which marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War.
The modern observance of the holiday on a Monday follows the federal Uniform Monday Holiday Act, creating a three-day weekend. A significant practical application of this scheduling is its association with the Boston Marathon, which has been held on Patriots' Day every year since 1897. For future reference, Patriots' Day in 2024 was on April 15, and in 2025, it will fall on April 21.
