The subject of the query is the proper noun "Patriots' Day," a state holiday whose date is determined by a specific rule. It is officially observed on the third Monday in April in both Massachusetts and Maine. For the year 2025, the third Monday of April falls on April 21.
This holiday commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the initial armed conflicts of the American Revolutionary War, which occurred on April 19, 1775. While historically observed on the fixed date of April 19, legislation enacted in Massachusetts in 1969 moved the official observance to the third Monday of the month. This change was made to create a three-day weekend, a practice consistent with the federal Uniform Monday Holiday Act, although Patriots' Day itself remains a state-level holiday.
Consequently, the specific date of Patriots' Day varies annually. The practical application of this floating date is significant, as it determines the timing of major regional events. Most notably, the Boston Marathon is traditionally held on this day, making April 21, 2025, the date for that year's race. The holiday results in the closure of state, county, and municipal offices, as well as many schools and businesses, primarily in Massachusetts and Maine.
