Yes, Patriots' Day is an official state holiday in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is observed annually on the third Monday in April to commemorate the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which were the first armed conflicts of the American Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775. The observance is legally established within the state's statutes.
The status of this day as a public legal holiday is codified in Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 4, Section 7, Clause 18. Consequently, state, county, and municipal government offices are closed, as are public schools and many private businesses. The holiday's official recognition facilitates major civic events, most notably the Boston Marathon, which has been held on Patriots' Day since 1897, and historical reenactments of the revolutionary battles in Lexington and Concord.
It is crucial to distinguish this observance from a federal holiday. Because Patriots' Day is designated at the state level, federal institutions, such as the United States Postal Service and federal courts located within Massachusetts, remain open and operational. This distinction highlights its specific regional significance, primarily celebrated in Massachusetts and Maine, where it is also an official state holiday.
