The central subject of the query is the proper noun "Patriots' Day." In Massachusetts, including Boston, this official state holiday is observed on the third Monday in April. It commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first armed conflicts of the American Revolutionary War, which took place on April 19, 1775.
Originally, the holiday was officially observed on the fixed date of April 19. However, in 1969, Massachusetts law changed the observance to the third Monday of the month, creating a three-day weekend. This date is most famously associated with the running of the Boston Marathon, an event that has been held on Patriots' Day since 1897. The day is also marked by historical re-enactments of the battles in Lexington and Concord, parades, and other civic ceremonies.
As a floating holiday, the specific date of Patriots' Day changes each year. For example, it was observed on April 15 in 2024 and will be on April 21 in 2025. It is crucial to distinguish this regional holiday, celebrated in Massachusetts and Maine, from the national observance known as Patriot Day, which is held annually on September 11 to remember the victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks.
