Patriots' Day is not a national holiday in the United States. It is a state holiday officially observed in Massachusetts and Maine on the third Monday of April. While it commemorates events of national significance, its legal observance is limited to these specific states.
The holiday commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first armed conflicts of the American Revolutionary War, which occurred on April 19, 1775. The United States federal government designates ten official public holidays, but individual states have the authority to establish their own. Wisconsin also recognizes the date as a public school holiday. The day is widely known for civic celebrations and historical reenactments in Massachusetts, as well as for being the date of the Boston Marathon.
Consequently, its status highlights the distinction between federal and state-level governance in the U.S. regarding public observances. Unlike federally recognized holidays such as Independence Day or Memorial Day, which apply nationwide, Patriots' Day is an example of a regional commemoration that holds deep historical importance but lacks official federal recognition.
