Patriots' Day is a state holiday observed on the third Monday in April in Massachusetts and Maine. This date is not fixed but rather floats to ensure it always creates a three-day weekend. The holiday specifically commemorates the opening battles of the American Revolutionary War and is also a public school holiday in Wisconsin.
The observance was originally established on April 19 to mark the exact anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which occurred on April 19, 1775. However, in 1969, Massachusetts enacted legislation to shift the holiday from the fixed date to the third Monday of the month. This change aligned with the national trend of creating more three-day weekends, as formalized by the federal Uniform Monday Holiday Act, to benefit both workers and commerce.
On a practical level, the date of Patriots' Day is directly associated with the running of the Boston Marathon, which has been held on the holiday since 1897. The day is also marked by historical reenactments, parades, and the closure of public schools, state, and local government offices in the observing states. For residents and visitors, the date signifies a day of both major public events and civic remembrance.
