Get ready to have some fun and challenge your brain on National Puzzle Day, Jan. 29! This special day has been celebrated since the 1990s and was created to honor jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, logic problems and other types of puzzles that make us think outside the box. It's a great opportunity to take a break from everyday life and enjoy some quality time with friends or family while solving brainteasers together.
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1760s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Jigsaw Puzzle</div><div class='timeline-text'>English cartographer John Spilsbury invented the jigsaw puzzle by cutting a wooden map into pieces.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1880s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Introduction of Puzzle Blocks</div><div class='timeline-text'>German manufacturers started making toy puzzle blocks. Colorful images were lithographed onto plywood and cut into geometric shapes.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1900s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Puzzles for Adults</div><div class='timeline-text'>The 1900s saw puzzles made more difficult and marketed towards adults, often featuring complicated patterns or art reproductions.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1930s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Peak Puzzle Popularity</div><div class='timeline-text'>In the 1930s, at the height of the Great Depression, jigsaw puzzles saw a surge in popularity as an affordable and reusable form of entertainment.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1986</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Rubik's Cube World Championship</div><div class='timeline-text'>The first Rubik's Cube World Championship was held in Budapest, Hungary, further solidifying puzzles as a form of intellectual competition.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2002</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>National Puzzle Day Creation</div><div class='timeline-text'>American journalist Jodi Jill created National Puzzle Day, which is now celebrated annually on January 29.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Do a jigsaw puzzle</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Nothing beats a good old-fashioned jigsaw puzzle. Challenge your family to complete it within the day or even better, put it together as a group.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Make your own puzzles</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Gather up some paper, scissors and markers and create your own puzzles. Use your imagination and make them as easy or difficult as you'd like.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Solve online puzzles</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>There are plenty of websites that offer free online puzzles. Check out popular sites such as Sudoku and Crosswords for a fun challenge.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Play logic games</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Whether it's chess, checkers, tic tac toe or any other type of game that requires strategy, puzzle lovers will appreciate this activity.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Try an escape room</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Escape rooms are all the rage these days. The objective is to solve puzzles in order to “escape” the room within a certain amount of time. It's a great way to celebrate National Puzzle Day with friends and family.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Puzzles are a great way to stay sharp</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Whether you love jigsaw puzzles, crosswords or word searches, puzzles are an excellent way to exercise your brain and keep it healthy. Studies have shown that regularly engaging in activities like puzzles can help improve memory and cognitive skills, as well as warding off age-related mental decline.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Puzzles are relaxing</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>When life gets busy and stressful, taking a few minutes out of your day to work on a puzzle can be incredibly calming. Focusing on the task at hand helps block out all the background noise and let's you relax and unwind without having to leave your house!</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Puzzles bring people together</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Sharing quality time with loved ones is one of the most rewarding aspects of puzzle solving. Whether you're working on it with your kids on a rainy day or challenging a friend over dinner, problem solving has never been so enjoyable! Not only does it create memorable experiences but it also helps strengthen bonds while having fun.</p></div></div>
National Puzzle Day is celebrated on January 29 every year. In 2024 National Puzzle Day will occur on a Monday.
2023
Jan 29
Sunday
2024
Jan 29
Monday
2025
Jan 29
Wednesday
2026
Jan 29
Thursday
2027
Jan 29
Friday