Patriots' Day is not a national holiday in the United States. It is a state-level civic holiday, meaning its official observance is determined by individual state governments rather than the federal government.
The holiday is officially recognized and celebrated as a public holiday in Massachusetts and Maine. It is observed on the third Monday in April and commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first armed conflicts of the American Revolutionary War, which took place on April 19, 1775. While not a public holiday where offices close, Wisconsin and Connecticut also officially designate the day for observance and proclamation.
As a result of its status, federal institutions such as the U.S. Postal Service and federally chartered banks remain open on Patriots' Day. However, in states like Massachusetts and Maine, state and local government offices, public schools, and many businesses are closed. The distinction highlights the difference between a federal holiday, which applies nationwide, and a state holiday, which is jurisdiction-specific.
