Patriots' Day is a state civic holiday, not a federal one. It is officially recognized and observed in a limited number of states, primarily Massachusetts and Maine. The United States federal government does not designate this day as a national holiday, meaning federal institutions and services operate as usual across the country.
The observance commemorates the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which were the first armed engagements of the American Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775. In Massachusetts and Maine, the holiday is legally established on the third Monday of April, resulting in the closure of state and local government offices, schools, and some private businesses. Wisconsin also recognizes the day as a special observance for public schools, and Connecticut has made it an unpaid, ceremonial holiday.
This distinction means that while federal entities like the U.S. Postal Service and federal courts remain open nationally, they may be closed in specific localities within Massachusetts if housed in state or municipal buildings that are observing the holiday. The day holds major cultural significance in New England and is famously linked to the annual running of the Boston Marathon, which has been held on this date since 1897.
