National Puzzle Day
From jigsaws to Rubik’s Cubes, crosswords to riddles, give your brain a rewarding workout or try inventing a brand new puzzle of your own.
Drive January puzzle sales and engagement by positioning puzzle products as brain-boosting gifts and activities for families and hobbyists.
- Challenge your brain: Share puzzle-solving tips and brain teaser content to drive app downloads and puzzle book sales
- DIY puzzle-making kits: Promote craft supplies and wooden puzzle-making kits as creative family activities
- Puzzle competitions: Host social media contests or in-store puzzle challenges to boost foot traffic and engagement
- Gift guides: Feature jigsaw puzzles, Rubik's Cubes, and crossword collections as affordable January wellness gifts
National Puzzle Day dates back to 1994 when it was founded as an idea from Jodi Jill, a puzzle maker and enthusiast.
She decided that she would send out free Brain Baffler puzzles just one day a year – on her birthday! That’s where this event got is start, and by the early 2000s, it was widely known and celebrated. Even today, it’s possible to head over to Jodi Jill’s website to get access to free puzzles in celebration of National Puzzle Day!
Do a Puzzle
Of course, the most obvious way to celebrate is the simplest! Just pull a puzzle out of the closet and put it together on a big table. Grab a crossword puzzle from a puzzle book or the daily newspaper. Or download a puzzle app on a smartphone and get to playing!
Create a Puzzle
For some people the fun of puzzles has more to do with making them than completing them. Some of the easiest puzzles to make are word search puzzles, where words are strung together and hidden within a block of letters. It’s also possible to create your own Sudoku or crossword puzzle. Those who have access to a carpentry shop might find that a fun project would be making up a hand-crafted wooden jigsaw puzzle that a child might enjoy. Or, keep it super simple and do this activity with a group of kids: draw a picture on a piece of paper, cut it out creatively with scissors or a crafting knife, and then put it back together.
Eat a Puzzle Sandwich
Make a sandwich and then, instead of cutting it into triangles, cut it creatively into shapes that can be moved around and then put back together. It’s a snack that doubles as a game!