Patriots' Day is not a federal holiday in the United States. The term "federal" is an adjective describing a holiday established by Congress and observed nationwide by federal institutions. This designation does not apply to Patriots' Day, which is a civic holiday at the state level.
The distinction lies in legislative jurisdiction. Federal holidays are enacted through federal law, leading to the closure of non-essential federal government offices, postal services, and federally chartered banks across the country. In contrast, Patriots' Day was established by state legislatures and is officially observed only in Massachusetts and Maine. It is commemorated on the third Monday in April, marking the anniversary of the 1775 Battles of Lexington and Concord. While some other states, like Wisconsin, may have public school observances on April 19, these do not constitute an official state holiday.
Consequently, the practical application is that outside of Massachusetts and Maine, there is no public or private observance of the day. Within those two states, state and local government offices, schools, and some businesses close. However, federal institutions, such as United States Post Offices and federal court buildings located within Massachusetts and Maine, remain open for business as they would on any other non-federal-holiday weekday.
