Patriots' Day was established as a public holiday in Massachusetts in 1894. Governor Frederic T. Greenhalge signed the law that designated April 19 as the date for its observance, replacing the state's long-standing Fast Day. The new holiday was created to commemorate the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which took place on April 19, 1775, marking the start of the American Revolutionary War.
The selection of April 19 was a deliberate choice to honor the first armed conflicts of the Revolution. Maine, which was once part of Massachusetts, followed suit and declared Patriots' Day a legal holiday in 1907. A significant change occurred in 1969 when Massachusetts, as part of a move to create more three-day weekends, shifted the observance of the holiday from the fixed date of April 19 to the third Monday in April. Maine later made the same adjustment.
The establishment of this holiday reflects a formal effort to create a civic and historical commemoration of a pivotal moment in American history. It is a state holiday, not a federal one, and is officially observed in a small number of states, most notably Massachusetts and Maine. Its modern observance is closely associated with major civic events, including the Boston Marathon, which has been held on the holiday since 1897, and historical reenactments of the 1775 battles.
