Patriots' Day has never been a national holiday in the United States. It is a state-level civic holiday with official status in only a few states. The core subject of the inquiry, "Patriots' Day," functions as a proper noun.
The observance was first established as a legal state holiday in Massachusetts in 1894, replacing Fast Day and set to commemorate the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. In 1969, Massachusetts state law moved the observance to the third Monday in April. Maine, which was part of Massachusetts until 1820, also observes it as an official state holiday on the same day. More recently, Connecticut designated it a statewide holiday in 2018, and Wisconsin recognizes it as a public school observance day.
The distinction between a state holiday and a federal (national) holiday is critical. Federal holidays are designated by the U.S. Congress and apply nationwide. Because the historical events commemorated by Patriots' Day are specific to New England, its official recognition has remained regional rather than expanding to the national level.
