Patriots' Day is a state civic holiday observed on the third Monday of April in Massachusetts, Maine, and Wisconsin. It commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord and the Siege of Boston, the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War, which occurred on April 19, 1775. The holiday celebrates the beginning of the organized armed conflict for American independence from British rule.
The historical events memorialized by the holiday began with the clandestine nighttime rides of Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott to alert colonial militias of the approaching British forces. The British objective was to seize a cache of military supplies stored by the colonists in Concord. The first shots were fired at dawn on Lexington Green, followed by a more significant engagement at the North Bridge in Concord, where colonial minutemen successfully repelled the British regulars. These encounters marked a decisive shift from political protest to open warfare.
In modern times, the holiday is observed with various events that combine historical remembrance and civic tradition. The most famous of these is the Boston Marathon, which has been held on this day annually since 1897. Additionally, historical reenactments of the battles and Paul Revere's ride take place in Lexington, Concord, and other historic Massachusetts towns. The holiday serves as a significant regional commemoration of early American history, civic duty, and the sacrifices made at the start of the nation's fight for liberty.
