Patriots' Day is a civic holiday that commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. These pivotal events, which occurred on April 19, 1775, marked the outbreak of open armed conflict between the Kingdom of Great Britain and its thirteen colonies in North America.
The holiday specifically recognizes the historic events of that day, beginning with the midnight rides of Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott to warn colonial militias of the approaching British forces. The British Army's objective was to seize and destroy military supplies stored by the Massachusetts militia in Concord. The conflict began with a skirmish on Lexington Green and escalated into a significant battle at Concord's North Bridge, where colonial "minutemen" forced the British troops to retreat. The holiday celebrates the courage and resolve of these early patriot militias.
Observed as a state holiday in Massachusetts, Maine, and Wisconsin, its most prominent modern observance is the running of the Boston Marathon, which has been held on Patriots' Day since 1897. The day is also marked by historical reenactments of the battles, parades, and other commemorative ceremonies, particularly in the towns of Lexington and Concord, serving as a regional celebration of the dawn of American independence.
