Patriots' Day, observed annually on the third Monday of April in six U.S. states, commemorates the pivotal battles of Lexington, Concord, and Menotomy, marking the start of the American Revolutionary War. Celebrations typically feature historical reenactments of these battles and coincide with the running of the Boston Marathon.
1907: Maine Replaces Fast Day with Patriots' Day
In 1907, Maine followed Massachusetts' lead by replacing its Fast Day with Patriots' Day, thereby establishing the holiday in the state.
1938: Massachusetts Legislature Establishes Patriots' Day
In 1938, the Massachusetts legislature passed a bill establishing Patriots' Day in commemoration of the opening events of the War of the Revolution. This legislative action solidified the holiday's significance in Massachusetts history.
1959: Patriots' Day Red Sox Game Postponed
The Boston Red Sox game scheduled on Patriots' Day in 1959 was postponed due to weather conditions.
1961: Patriots' Day Red Sox Game Postponed
Weather caused the postponement of the 1961 Patriots' Day Red Sox game at Fenway Park.
1965: Patriots' Day Red Sox Game Postponed
The Boston Red Sox's Patriots' Day game in 1965 was postponed due to inclement weather.
1967: Patriots' Day Red Sox Game Postponed
In 1967, the Patriots' Day game for the Boston Red Sox was postponed due to weather.
1968: Morning Start for Patriots' Day Red Sox Games Begins
Starting in 1968, the Boston Red Sox's Patriots' Day games began early in the morning, around 11:00 AM, aligning with the Boston Marathon.
1969: Patriots' Day Observance Changed to Third Monday in April
Since 1969, Patriots' Day has been observed on the third Monday in April in Massachusetts and Maine. This change was made to create a three-day long weekend and align with public school vacation schedules.
1984: Patriots' Day Red Sox Game Postponed
The 1984 Patriots' Day game at Fenway Park was postponed due to weather conditions.
1995: Patriots' Day Red Sox Game Canceled
The Boston Red Sox's Patriots' Day game was canceled in 1995 due to the baseball strike.
2006: End of Morning Start for Patriots' Day Red Sox Games
The tradition of starting the Patriots' Day Red Sox games in the morning ended in 2006, with the last early start occurring that year.
2007: Change in Start Time for Boston Marathon
In 2007, the start times for the Boston Marathon were adjusted to between 9:30 AM and 10:00 AM, affecting the timing of the Patriots' Day Red Sox games.
2013: Patriots' Day Red Sox Game Played Despite Marathon Bombing
Despite the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, the Patriots' Day game for the Boston Red Sox was played, as it concluded before the bombs detonated.
June 10, 2017: Connecticut Establishes Patriots' Day
On June 10, 2017, Governor Dannel Malloy signed a bill establishing Patriots' Day as a statewide unpaid holiday in Connecticut. This marked the state's official recognition of the holiday.
April 16, 2018: First Observance of Patriots' Day in Connecticut
Connecticut officially observed Patriots' Day for the first time on April 16, 2018, following the bill signed the previous year by Governor Dannel Malloy.
2018: Connecticut Begins Observance of Patriots' Day
In 2018, Connecticut began the formal observance of Patriots' Day, adding to the list of states recognizing the holiday.
2018: Patriots' Day Red Sox Game Postponed
In 2018, the Boston Red Sox's Patriots' Day game was postponed because of weather issues.
March 19, 2019: North Dakota Recognizes Patriots' Day
On March 19, 2019, Governor Doug Burgum signed a bill recognizing Patriots' Day in North Dakota, making it an officially acknowledged holiday in the state.
2019: North Dakota Begins Observance of Patriots' Day
North Dakota started observing Patriots' Day in 2019, further expanding the holiday's recognition across the United States.
2020: Boston Marathon Canceled Due to COVID-19
The Boston Marathon was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the first time the race was not held since its inception in 1897.
2020: Boston Marathon Canceled Due to COVID-19
The Boston Marathon, traditionally held on Patriots' Day since 1897, was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This marked the first cancellation in the marathon's history.
2020: Patriots' Day Red Sox Game Canceled
The Patriots' Day game for the Boston Red Sox was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021: Boston Marathon Rescheduled
Due to ongoing concerns over COVID-19, the 2021 Boston Marathon was rescheduled from Patriots' Day to October 11. This was an unprecedented shift for the historic race.
2021: Boston Marathon Rescheduled
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Boston Marathon was rescheduled from its traditional Patriots' Day date to October 11.