Patriot's Day in United States
Quick Facts
Patriot's Day commemorates the battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775, which were two of the earliest battles in the American Revolutionary War.Local names
| Name | Language |
|---|---|
| Patriot's Day | English |
| Día del Patriota | Spanish |
Patriot's Day 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009Patriot's Day 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010See list of observations below
Patriot's Day commemorates the battles of Lexington and Concord near Boston. ©iStockphoto.com/Julia
What do people do?
For some people in the states of Massachusetts and Maine, the third Monday of April is a welcome day off work or school. In the area around Lexington and Concord, re-enactments of the battles in 1775 and the events leading up to them are held. A particular highlight is the opportunity to ring the bell that warned the local troops that British soldiers were approaching. Lectures, concerts and road races are also organized. In Boston, a marathon is held. Most years the Boston Red Sox baseball team schedules a game that is timed so that spectators can watch the runners as they leave the stadium.
In the state of Wisconsin, April 19 is a special observance day for schools. On this date, schools are required to educate students about the events and people centered on Patriots' Day. It is recommended that the observances are held on the actual date, although they are generally moved to Friday, April 18, if April 19 is a Saturday and to Monday, April 20, if April 19 falls on a Sunday.
Public life
Patriots' Day is a state holiday in Massachusetts and Maine, where state, county, and municipal offices are closed. However, Patriots' Day is not a federal public holiday and federal offices are open. Many schools are closed for the spring break. Stores and other businesses and organizations may be open or closed according to local custom. Most public transit services run to reduced schedules, but may not operate in rural areas. There may be some local disruption to traffic around the re-enactments and sports events, particularly in Boston.
If Patriots' Day and Tax Day fall on the same date, the deadline for filing an income tax return is extended for the residents of some states. Patriots' Day is not a public holiday in other parts of the United States.
Background
Prior to 1775, the area that is now the eastern part of the United States mainly consisted of British colonies controlled by the United Kingdom. The American Revolutionary War, also known as the American War of Independence, was a major step in the independence of the United States. The first battles in this war were fought in the areas of Lexington and Concord, near Boston, Massachusetts, on April 19, 1775. For this reason, the third Monday in April is symbolic for the emerging independence of the new country.
An act to amend the Tennessee code regarding Patriot’s Day took effect in 2008. The state’s code now officially includes the holiday and mentions that its governor proclaims April 19 of each year as Patriot’s Day. This day is still not a public holiday in Tennessee. Patriots' Day is also known as Patriot's Day and Patriots Day. However, it should not be confused with Patriot Day, held on September 11 to mark the anniversary of terrorist attacks in the United States on that date in 2001.
Patriot's Day Observances
| Weekday | Date | Year | Name | Holiday type | Where it is observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Apr 21 | 1980 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 20 | 1981 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 19 | 1982 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 18 | 1983 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 16 | 1984 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 15 | 1985 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 21 | 1986 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 20 | 1987 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 18 | 1988 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 17 | 1989 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 16 | 1990 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 15 | 1991 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 20 | 1992 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 19 | 1993 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 18 | 1994 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 17 | 1995 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 15 | 1996 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 21 | 1997 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 20 | 1998 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 19 | 1999 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 17 | 2000 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 16 | 2001 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 15 | 2002 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 21 | 2003 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 19 | 2004 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 18 | 2005 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 17 | 2006 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 16 | 2007 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 21 | 2008 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 20 | 2009 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 19 | 2010 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 18 | 2011 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 16 | 2012 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 15 | 2013 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 21 | 2014 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
| Mon | Apr 20 | 2015 | Patriot's Day | State holiday | MA, ME |
Related holiday
- Patriot Day–Friday, September 11, 2009
Other holidays in April 2009 in United States
- World Autism Awareness Day (Thursday, April 2, 2009)
- Pascua Florida Day (Thursday, April 2, 2009)
- United Nations' Mine Awareness Day (Saturday, April 4, 2009)
- Palm Sunday (Sunday, April 5, 2009)
- United Nations' World Health Day (Tuesday, April 7, 2009)
- First day of Passover (Thursday, April 9, 2009)
- Maundy Thursday (Thursday, April 9, 2009)
- Good Friday (Friday, April 10, 2009)
- Holy Saturday (Saturday, April 11, 2009)
- Easter Sunday (Sunday, April 12, 2009)
- Easter Monday (Monday, April 13, 2009)
- Father Damien Day (Wednesday, April 15, 2009)
- Tax Day (Wednesday, April 15, 2009)
- Emancipation Day (Thursday, April 16, 2009)
- Last day of Passover (Thursday, April 16, 2009)
- Orthodox Good Friday (Friday, April 17, 2009)
- Orthodox Holy Saturday (Saturday, April 18, 2009)
- Orthodox Easter (Sunday, April 19, 2009)
- Orthodox Easter Monday (Monday, April 20, 2009)
- San Jacinto Day (Tuesday, April 21, 2009)
- Yom HaShoah (Tuesday, April 21, 2009)
- Administrative Professionals Day (Wednesday, April 22, 2009)
- Oklahoma Day (Wednesday, April 22, 2009)
- Earth Day (Wednesday, April 22, 2009)
- World Book and Copyright Day (Thursday, April 23, 2009)
- Arbor Day (Friday, April 24, 2009)
- Confederate Memorial Day (Monday, April 27, 2009)
- Yom HaAtzmaut (Wednesday, April 29, 2009)
Other calendars
- Perpetual yearly calendar - make yearly calendar for any year
- Perpetual monthly calendar - shows only one month at a time
- Custom calendar - make customized calendars
