Patriots' Day is a state holiday observed on the third Monday of April. It is officially celebrated in Massachusetts and Maine and is also recognized as a public school holiday in Wisconsin, where it is observed on April 19 unless that date falls on a weekend.
The holiday 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. Initially observed on the fixed date of April 19, the commemoration was shifted to the third Monday of the month in Massachusetts in 1969 (and later in Maine) to create a three-day weekend.
As a state-level observance, it is not a federal holiday and is not recognized nationwide. The day is marked by significant cultural events, most notably the Boston Marathon, which has been held on this date since 1897. Other activities include historical reenactments of the 1775 battles in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, and a special morning game for the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
