Patriots' Day is a state civic holiday observed on the third Monday of April in Massachusetts, as well as in Maine and Wisconsin. It commemorates the opening battles of the American Revolutionary War: the Battles of Lexington and Concord and the Battle of Menotomy, which occurred on April 19, 1775. The holiday serves as a remembrance of the first military engagements that marked the beginning of the armed conflict between the American colonies and Great Britain.
The historical events commemorated involve the midnight rides of Paul Revere and William Dawes to warn colonial minutemen of the approaching British forces. The British Army's objective was to seize a colonial arms cache in Concord. The initial confrontation at Lexington Green, often referred to as the "shot heard 'round the world," was followed by a more significant engagement at Concord's North Bridge, where colonial militia forced a British retreat. The subsequent fighting along the route back to Boston constituted a major colonial victory and catalyzed the Siege of Boston.
In contemporary Massachusetts, the day is marked by a range of public events and traditions. The most prominent is the running of the Boston Marathon, an annual event that has been held on this day since 1897. Other significant observances include historical reenactments of the battles in the towns of Lexington and Concord, parades, and a unique morning home game for the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, which typically concludes as the first marathon runners approach Kenmore Square.
