Patriots' Day is a civic holiday commemorating the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which occurred on April 19, 1775. These engagements were the first armed conflicts of the American Revolutionary War and marked the outbreak of open hostilities between the Kingdom of Great Britain and its thirteen colonies in North America. The holiday is officially observed on the third Monday in April in Massachusetts and Maine, and as a public school holiday in Wisconsin.
The historical events celebrated include the midnight rides of Paul Revere and William Dawes to warn colonial minutemen of the approaching British forces, the initial skirmish on Lexington Green known as the "shot heard 'round the world," and the subsequent confrontation at the North Bridge in Concord. These events signified the colonists' resolve to resist British authority through military force. In modern times, the day is famously associated with the Boston Marathon, which has been held annually on Patriots' Day since 1897, tying a major athletic event to the historical commemoration.
The observance of the holiday serves as a remembrance of the start of the American fight for independence and a celebration of civic duty and liberty. It is marked by historical reenactments, particularly in the towns of Lexington and Concord, as well as parades and other community events. The day embodies a tribute to the volunteer soldiers of the colonial militia and the foundational principles of American democracy that emerged from the conflict.
