The core subject of the inquiry, "Patriots' Day," is a proper noun. The holiday commemorates the first armed conflicts of the American Revolutionary War, specifically the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which took place on April 19, 1775. It is a civic holiday observed in Massachusetts, Maine, and Wisconsin to mark the beginning of the colonists' fight for independence from Great Britain.
The historical events celebrated began on the night of April 18, 1775, with the midnight rides of Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott to warn colonial militia of approaching British troops. The following morning, on Lexington Green, the "shot heard 'round the world" was fired as British soldiers clashed with minutemen. Later that day, at the North Bridge in Concord, colonial militia successfully repelled a British contingent, forcing their retreat to Boston. These engagements were the first organized military actions by the American colonies against the British Empire, transforming a political dispute into a war.
Contemporary observance of Patriots' Day involves historical reenactments of the battles in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts. The day is also famously associated with the running of the Boston Marathon, an athletic event held annually on the holiday since 1897. While the historical anniversary is April 19th, the official holiday is now observed on the third Monday in April in Massachusetts and Maine, creating a three-day weekend.
