Patriots' Day was first established as a public holiday in Massachusetts in 1894. The proclamation was made by Governor Frederic T. Greenhalge, designating April 19 as the official date of observance. This date was chosen to commemorate the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which took place on April 19, 1775, and marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War.
The creation of the holiday replaced Fast Day, a traditional day of fasting and prayer that had been observed in the region since the 17th century. The transition reflected a broader societal shift toward secular, patriotic commemorations. For many years, the holiday was observed on the fixed date of April 19. However, in 1969, Massachusetts state law changed the observance to the third Monday in April as part of a legislative move to create more three-day weekends. The state of Maine, which was part of Massachusetts during the Revolution, also observes the holiday on the third Monday of April.
The establishment of this regional holiday provides a formal, state-sanctioned recognition of the first armed conflicts of the American Revolution. Its most prominent modern application is its association with the Boston Marathon, which has been held on the holiday annually since 1897, tying a major civic and sporting event directly to the historical commemoration.
