Patriots' Day is a state holiday observed on the third Monday of April. It is not a federal holiday and is officially recognized in only a few states, primarily Massachusetts, Maine, and Wisconsin. The specific date changes each year according to this "third Monday" rule.
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, the observance was held on the fixed date of April 19. However, in 1969, Massachusetts law shifted the holiday to the third Monday in April to create a three-day weekend, a practice consistent with the federal Uniform Monday Holiday Act. Maine, which was part of Massachusetts until 1820, followed this change. Wisconsin also designates it as a public school holiday on April 19, though it is not a legal holiday for all state employees.
The practical application of this floating Monday holiday is most famously demonstrated by the Boston Marathon. This annual event has been traditionally scheduled to coincide with Patriots' Day, taking full advantage of the holiday observance in Massachusetts. Therefore, knowing the holiday's date is essential for participants and spectators of this internationally recognized race.
