The subject of the query, "Patriots' Day," functions as a proper noun. Its status as a "major holiday" is conditional and primarily regional. It is not a federal holiday in the United States, meaning federal government offices, the postal service, and most banks nationwide do not close in observance. Its significance is concentrated in specific states where it is an official public holiday.
Patriots' Day is an official state holiday in Massachusetts, Maine, and Wisconsin, observed on the third Monday in April. The day commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, which were the first armed engagements of the American Revolutionary War. In these states, particularly Massachusetts, the observance is significant, involving the closure of schools and state and local government offices. The holiday is marked by major cultural events, most notably the running of the Boston Marathon, as well as historical reenactments of the battles and Paul Revere's ride.
Therefore, while it is not recognized on a national scale like holidays such as Independence Day or Thanksgiving, it is a major holiday within the specific cultural and civic context of New England and Wisconsin. Its importance is tied directly to its historical roots and the modern traditions that have evolved around it, making its classification dependent on geography. For residents of Massachusetts and Maine, it is a prominent and widely celebrated day; for the rest of the country, it is largely just another Monday.
