Patriots Day Is When

Patriots' Day is a state holiday observed on the third Monday of April in Massachusetts, Maine, and Wisconsin. It commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first armed conflicts of the American Revolutionary War, which occurred on April 19, 1775.

The key functional word in the interrogative phrase "patriots day is when" is "when," which serves as an interrogative adverb. This part of speech specifically requests information related to time. The phrase positions "Patriots Day" as a proper noun (the subject) and "is" as a linking verb, forming a query about the date of the observance. While historically tied to the specific date of April 19th, the holiday was officially moved in Massachusetts in 1969 (and subsequently in Maine) to the third Monday of the month to create a three-day weekend.

The practical significance of this specific Monday in April is most famously marked by the running of the Boston Marathon, an event that has been held on Patriots' Day every year since 1897. The day also features historical reenactments of the 1775 battles, particularly in the towns of Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, directly linking the modern holiday to the historical events it honors.