Patriots' Day was established as a legal holiday in Massachusetts in 1894. Governor Frederic T. Greenhalge signed the measure into law, proclaiming that it would be observed annually on April 19.
The creation of this holiday was intended to replace Fast Day, a solemn public holiday of prayer and fasting that had been observed in the state since the 17th century. The new observance was designed to commemorate a pivotal moment in American history: the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which occurred on April 19, 1775, and marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. The holiday shifted the focus from a religious custom to a patriotic civic celebration of liberty and the state's historical role in the nation's founding.
The date of observance remained fixed on April 19 for 75 years. In 1969, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts moved the holiday to the third Monday in April. This change was made to create a three-day weekend, aligning with a broader movement toward Monday holidays for federal and state observances to benefit workers and commerce. The holiday is also officially recognized and celebrated in Maine.
