Patriots' Day is not a federal holiday in the United States. It is an official state holiday in Massachusetts and Maine. The day is also observed as a special observance day in Connecticut and a public school holiday in Wisconsin.
The distinction lies in the governmental level of recognition. Federal holidays are designated by the U.S. Congress for the entire nation, closing federal offices and banks. State holidays are established by individual state legislatures and apply only within that state's jurisdiction. Observed on the third Monday in April, Patriots' Day commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the initial armed conflicts of the American Revolutionary War in 1775.
Therefore, its status as an "official holiday" is geographically limited. While it holds significant cultural and historical importance in New England, marked by events like the Boston Marathon and historical reenactments, its legal recognition and the closure of government services and schools are confined to the specific states that have enacted legislation to observe it.
