While you’re probably at work today (like me actually), today is Patriot’s Day, a state holiday in Massachusetts, commemorating the battle that started the American Revolutionary War. Paul Revere rode around town 231 years ago and a bunch of people woke up early this morning to re-enact battles in Lexington and Concord. Taxpayers in Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, and DC benefit from an extra day to send in their Federal tax returns, as their regional processing center in Andover is closed.
Related but lesser known is Evacuation Day, a local holiday in Boston, Cambridge and Somerville. It’s March 17th, commemorating the evacuation of Boston by British forces during the aforementioned war.
The thing that strikes me about both of these holidays is the lack of commercialization around the two. Granted, no one outside the region knows much about them – but it’s also tough to find a business here that tries to take advantage of these holidays. Seems like they are more interested in watching marathoners or the Red Sox along with everyone else.
Then again, given the fact that the American Revolution was centered around a revolt protesting commercial policies of the British, this is pretty appropriate. Maybe we can take it a step further and make it a tax-free shopping holiday in the future. In any case, cheers to Sam Adams: Brewer, Patriot.
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patriot’s day, evacuation day ::
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