Patriots' Day is a state holiday in Massachusetts observed annually on the third Monday in April.
The holiday officially commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the initial armed conflicts of the American Revolutionary War, which occurred on April 19, 1775. While originally celebrated on the fixed date of April 19, the observance was shifted to the third Monday of the month in 1969 to create a three-day weekend. The day is also an official public holiday in Maine, which was historically part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Modern observances of Patriots' Day are highlighted by several major civic and sporting events. The most prominent is the Boston Marathon, which has been held on the holiday each year since 1897. The day also features historical reenactments of the battles and of Paul Revere's ride in the towns of Lexington, Concord, and surrounding communities, connecting the contemporary holiday with its historical origins.
