The keyword subject, "Patriots' Day," functions as a proper noun. The holiday is observed on the third Monday in April in Massachusetts and Maine. It commemorates the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which took place on April 19, 1775, and marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War.
In Boston, the observance of the day is distinguished by several major events. The most prominent is the Boston Marathon, an annual race organized by the Boston Athletic Association that has been held on Patriots' Day since 1897. The day also features historical reenactments of the battles and Paul Revere's ride in the towns of Lexington and Concord. Additionally, the Boston Red Sox baseball team traditionally plays a home game at Fenway Park with an early morning start time, typically around 11:00 AM.
Originally, the holiday was officially observed on the fixed date of April 19. However, it was moved to the third Monday of the month in Massachusetts in 1969 to create a three-day weekend. This combination of historical commemoration with significant, modern sporting events makes the day a unique and major civic and cultural occasion specific to the region.
