Patriots' Day is a state holiday observed in Massachusetts on the third Monday of April. While the specific calendar date changes each year, the observance is consistently fixed to this day of the week, creating a three-day weekend for state and many local government offices, public schools, and some private businesses.
The holiday commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which were the first armed engagements of the American Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775. Originally, the observance was held on the fixed date of April 19. In 1969, Massachusetts state law was changed to move the official observance to the third Monday in April, aligning with a broader legislative trend to create additional long weekends.
In practice, Patriots' Day is most widely known for hosting the annual Boston Marathon, which has been held on the holiday since 1897. The day also features historical reenactments of the 1775 battles in Lexington and Concord, local parades, and a traditionally scheduled morning home game for the Boston Red Sox baseball team at Fenway Park, making it a day of significant cultural and athletic activity in the region.
