The term "Patriots' Day" is a proper noun referring to a civic holiday celebrated in several American states. It commemorates the opening battles of the American Revolutionary War, specifically the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which took place on April 19, 1775. The holiday honors the memory of the early colonial patriots who first fought for American independence.
Patriots' Day is an official state holiday on the third Monday of April in Massachusetts and Maine, and a public school holiday in Wisconsin. The historical events it marks include the famous "midnight ride" of Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott, who rode to warn minutemen in local militias of the approaching British soldiers. The ensuing skirmishes in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, were the first armed conflicts of the revolution. Modern observances often include historical reenactments of these battles, parades, and other civic ceremonies. The most prominent event associated with the day is the Boston Marathon, which has been held annually on Patriots' Day since 1897.
In contemporary context, the holiday celebrates the spirit of liberty and the beginning of the American quest for independence. It is important to distinguish the historical holiday from the 2016 film titled Patriots Day. The film focuses on a different event: the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the subsequent manhunt. While the tragedy occurred on Patriots' Day, the film's subject is this specific act of terrorism, not the historical commemoration of the American Revolution.
