Patriots' Day

Patriots' Day is a state holiday observed on the third Monday of April in Massachusetts and Maine. It commemorates the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775 — the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War.

This holiday should not be confused with Patriot Day (September 11), which commemorates the 9/11 attacks. Patriots' Day (plural, with apostrophe) is specifically about the start of the American Revolution.

The battles at Lexington and Concord marked the moment when colonial resistance turned into open armed conflict against British rule. The famous phrase \"the shot heard round the world\" refers to the first shots fired at the North Bridge in Concord, signaling the beginning of the fight for American independence.

Patriots' Day is also famous for being the day of the Boston Marathon, the world's oldest annual marathon, which has been held on this day since 1897.

On the night of April 18, 1775, Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott set out on their famous midnight ride to warn the colonial militia that British troops were marching from Boston to seize military supplies stored in Concord.

At dawn on April 19, 1775, about 700 British soldiers arrived at Lexington Green, where they encountered approximately 77 minutemen led by Captain John Parker. Shots were fired — the famous \"shot heard round the world\" — and eight minutemen were killed. The British then marched to Concord, where they faced a larger force of militia at the North Bridge. The colonists forced the British to retreat back to Boston, harassing them along the entire route.

Patriots' Day was originally observed on April 19, the actual anniversary of the battles. In 1969, it was moved to the third Monday in April to create a long weekend. Massachusetts has observed the holiday since 1894, and Maine adopted it as a state holiday as well.

The Boston Marathon has been run on Patriots' Day since its inaugural race in 1897, making it one of the most iconic annual traditions associated with the holiday.

Boston Marathon: The world's oldest annual marathon has been held on Patriots' Day since 1897. It is one of the six World Marathon Majors and attracts over 30,000 runners from around the world. The course runs from Hopkinton to Boston's Copley Square.

Battle Reenactments: Historical reenactments of the Battles of Lexington Green and the North Bridge in Concord take place each year, with participants in period costumes firing muskets and recreating the events of April 19, 1775.

Paul Revere's Ride Reenactment: A rider in colonial costume retraces Paul Revere's midnight ride from Boston's North End to Lexington, warning \"The British are coming!\"

Red Sox Morning Game: The Boston Red Sox traditionally play a morning home game at Fenway Park on Patriots' Day, with an early start time (usually 11:05 AM) so fans can watch the game and then head to the marathon route.

Dawn Salute on Lexington Green: A ceremony at dawn on the Lexington Battle Green commemorates the minutemen who stood against the British.