Patriots' Day is not a federal holiday in the United States. It is an official state holiday in Massachusetts, Maine, and Connecticut, and is recognized as a public school holiday in Wisconsin. This distinction means that while it is a legal public holiday with closures of schools, government offices, and many businesses in the observing states, it is not recognized or celebrated nationwide.
The holiday commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which were the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775. It is observed annually on the third Monday of April. The date is most famously associated with the Boston Marathon, which has been held on Patriots' Day every year since 1897. Other traditions include historical reenactments of the battles and a morning home game for the Boston Red Sox baseball team at Fenway Park.
Ultimately, the status of Patriots' Day exemplifies how holidays in the U.S. can have significant regional importance without national designation. Unlike federal holidays such as Independence Day or Thanksgiving, which are observed across the entire country, Patriots' Day is specifically tied to the historical events of a particular region. For the majority of Americans living outside of the designated New England states, it is a standard business day.
