137 saved#1,623 of 6,224

National Crossword Puzzle Day

Unravel the mysteries and challenge your mind with a fun crossword puzzle this National Crossword Puzzle Day!

Monday

December 2026

Last updated February 7, 2026 · by the Holiday Calendar Team

Have an update or spot an error?

YEARLY DATEDecember 21

OBSERVED INUnited States

CATEGORYPop Culture

SUBCATEGORYGaming

INTRO

Introduction

PHOTO

Get your pencils ready and join the celebration of National Crossword Puzzle Day on December 21! This special day commemorates the very first crossword puzzle that was published in 1913, a feat which marked an incredible milestone in word game history. Since then, these puzzles have been enjoyed by people all over the world who love to solve brain teasers or just enjoy a good challenge.

TIMELINE

National Crossword Puzzle Day Timeline

First Crossword Puzzle

British journalist Arthur Wynne invented crossword puzzles. The first one was published in the New York World newspaper on December 21.

Simon & Schuster Publishes

Simon & Schuster publishes the first book of crossword puzzles, kicking off its widespread popularity in print media.

Crossword Mania Matures

During World War II, crossword puzzles gained ground as a popular pastime for soldiers and civilians alike.

D-Day Crossword Coincidence

A strange coincidence occurred when key code words for the D-Day invasion appeared in The Daily Telegraph crossword.

First American Crossword Championship

The first American Crossword Puzzle Tournament was held, further consolidating the status of crossword puzzles as a beloved leisure activity.

Crosswords Go Digital

Computer and mobile applications started to offer digital crossword puzzles, making this brain teaser accessible to a wider, tech-savvy audience.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate National Crossword Puzzle Day

Create your own crossword puzzle

Design a unique crossword puzzle based around a theme of your choice and share it with family and friends. All you need is pencil, paper, and a few words to get started.

SOLVE

Solve a crossword puzzle online

In honor of National Crossword Puzzle Day, take on one of the many challenging puzzles available online. You can find puzzles in varying difficulty levels depending on your level of expertise.

GATHER

Gather with family and friends to solve crosswords together

Invite family, friends, and colleagues over for a night of crosswords. Assign each person a different puzzle and let the fun begin!

VISIT

Visit a local bookstore

Head over to your local bookstore and pick up some new crossword puzzle books or magazines. There are plenty of options from beginner to advanced difficulty levels.

HOST

Host a crossword tournament

Organize a tournament in celebration of National Crossword Puzzle Day. Invite everyone to compete against each other in timed rounds to determine who's the ultimate puzzler.

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why We Love National Crossword Puzzle Day

Crossword puzzles are perfect for group activities

Looking for something fun to do with friends or family? Gather around a crossword puzzle and share the challenge of completing it together! You can take turns working on clues or try to work through it as a group. Either way, it's sure to be an enjoyable activity that will bring everyone closer!

Crossword puzzles are fun and challenging

Crossword puzzles can be as difficult or as easy as you make them. You can find crossword puzzles for all levels of difficulty, from beginner to expert. Whether you're trying to sharpen your brain or just looking for a way to pass the time, crossword puzzles are a great way to exercise your mind and keep entertained!

Crossword puzzles improve problem solving skills

Crossword puzzles aren't just for entertainment - they can also help improve your problem solving skills. As you work through each clue and solve the puzzle, you'll be honing your critical thinking and analytical abilities. And who knows? You might even learn some new words in the process!

Related holidays

FRI

Jan 2026

Pop Culture

National Puzzle Day

Put your thinking caps on and get ready to celebrate National Puzzle Day! Enjoy hours of fun with family-friendly puzzles and games.

National Game & Puzzle Week

Get ready to sharpen your mind and have some fun during National Game & Puzzle Week - there's something for everyone, from classic board games to challenging puzzles!

National Scrabble Day

Celebrate National Scrabble Day with your friends and family - challenge each other to a friendly game and find out who has the best word skills!

Pop CultureMonth-long

International Brain Teaser Month

Get ready to exercise your brain and have some fun - it's International Brain Teaser Month! Challenge yourself with puzzles, riddles, and mind-bending games.

11Read

FOR MARKETERS & CREATORS

Turn every day into a moment your audience actually shows up for.

8.4M

Monthly readers

5K+

Holidays tracked

Holiday Calendar for Brands Developer API