The query centers on the classification of the proper noun "Patriots' Day" as a common noun, "holiday," within the jurisdiction of the proper noun "Massachusetts." The answer is affirmative: Patriots' Day is an official state holiday in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is legally observed on the third Monday of April each year.
This state holiday commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War, which occurred on April 19, 1775. As a public holiday recognized by Massachusetts state law, state, county, and municipal government offices are closed. Many public school systems and some private businesses also close in observance. The day is marked by historical reenactments, parades, and most notably, the running of the Boston Marathon, which has been held on Patriots' Day annually since 1897.
Practically, the observance means that while state and local services are suspended, federal government functions are not. Federal offices, such as post offices and federal courts, remain open because Patriots' Day is not a federal holiday. The decision for private sector businesses to close is discretionary, though road closures and significant public activity related to the Boston Marathon and other festivities often impact business operations, particularly in the Greater Boston area.
