The third Monday in April is different around here. Here's why
The day rivals Christmas, with its buildup and anticipation. But the traditions differ.
Parties move out to the front lawn. Holiday cards turn into placards of inspiration. No halls are decked, but desserts (“Sweet”) and carols (“Caroline”) are part of the tradition.
Instead of wrapping paper and ribbons, the clutter includes cups and discarded gel packets.
And then it’s over. Clean up and move on with the rest of your life.
But those few noisy hours of family gatherings and holiday cheer(ing) are like a gift — and worth waiting the whole year for. The world watches as our busy streets turn into hallowed ground in a celebration all our own.
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The third Monday in April is like any other start to the week in most of the 49 other states. Patriots' Day is also a state holiday in Maine, and in Connecticut, it is known as an “official holiday.” Wisconsin observes the day, but not as a state holiday.
But here it’s a day off and a chance for small towns to swell in both population and pride — one of the best days of the year, right up there with ones that involve fireworks and Feliz Navidad.
Yes, the Boston Marathon represents an unofficial start to spring. But where else do the planet’s top runners display their talents in towns with fewer than 20,000 residents. And that’s just through Mile 5, with a string of 30,000 others unspooling throughout the afternoon.
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World-record holder (Eliud Kipchoge) will be here, as will the tallest NHL player (6-foot-9 Zdeno Chara), and you can watch them go by. For free. If you live along Route 135, you can peer out the living room window or monitor the feed of your doorbell camera — both possible remedies for Monday’s wet forecast.
No need for that when rush-hour traffic is replaced by the gridlock of runners — all at the end of your driveway. And you have permission to put off yardwork for a week since the lawn may serve as a parking lot for the day.
If you can't go: Here's how to watch the 2023 Boston Marathon on TV and stream it
The best seats in the house aren’t seats or in the house. The third-floor balcony above Route 135 near La Cantina in Framingham and the Harleys in front of TJ’s Fine Food and Spirits in Ashland are as good as courtside or behind the plate. No “convenience” fees included.
Rain is likely Monday, but when has that ever stopped anyone from enjoying the day? We’ve had our hot years and wet ones, too. Just five years ago, temperatures never left the 30s and the skies never relented. Like any marathon — oops, around here it’s the Marathon — perseverance was key. Just ask Des Linden.
The big day is here, the anticipation over. No need to shop for last-minute gifts. And we’ll get wet instead of white.
Merry Marathon Day, everyone.
Tim Dumas is a multimedia journalist for the Daily News. He can be reached at tdumas@wickedlocal.com. He is running his eighth Boston Marathon. Follow him for updates from his race Monday on Twitter @TimDumas.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: In MetroWest Boston, Marathon Monday is one of the best days each year
