International Puzzle Day
July 13 · Level 2 · #1873 of 2238
International Puzzle Day is an informal excuse to enjoy a satisfying mental challenge. From crosswords and sudoku to jigsaws and mechanical puzzles, it celebrates the small thrill of finally seeing how the pieces fit.
How it is celebrated: enthusiasts swap riddles, tackle puzzles together and organise friendly solving contests. A shared challenge works especially well when everyone can suggest a different approach, with no prize needed beyond the answer.
Early jigsaw puzzles had an educational purpose. In the eighteenth century, London mapmaker John Spilsbury mounted maps on wood and cut them into pieces to help teach geography.