Puzzle Day and Penguins

Today is a day to celebrate puzzles

Did you know that today, January 29 is National Puzzle Day?

That was news to myself as well, but since 2002, it's been celebrated annually to honor all types of puzzles including, but not limited to, jigsaws, crosswords, Sudoku and word searches. The goal is to celebrate the mental benefits of puzzle solving which can include improved memory, cognitive function and problem-solving skills. 

Who wouldn't want to exercise their brain while having fun?

Puzzle Day was founded by Jodi Jill, a puzzle maker, writer and syndicated columnist and celebrated on her birthday (why not?). There's even an official website day at with all sorts of info at PuzzleDayFun.com.

For myself, this is a timely celebration especially after the completion of my first jigsaw puzzle in a few years. While last weekend's snowstorm was a headache for many, being indoors gave me a lot of time to work on this Christmas gift.

This puzzle was a Christmas gift from family

Of course, the only thing better than receiving a penguin jigsaw puzzle could have been one with frogs as well. But, after searching online, I found puzzles with either penguins or frogs, not both. This wooden puzzle (Leogor) consisted of 200 pieces, some with unique shapes like a Christmas tree, boat anchor, shark, mushroom, octopus, lighthouse and whale, some of which were challenging to fit together.

This puzzle mat was received as a Christmas gift

My holiday gift also included the felt puzzle mat (Gourbette) shown above for puzzles up to 1500-pieces with printed reference guidelines on the mat. The mat is a stow and go. It came with an inflatable tube and pump so the puzzle can be rolled up and inserted in the provided carrying case for temporary storage or moving it to another place. As I'm skeptical if rolling would dislodge any pieces, the mat will stay flat when working on a puzzle. It  also came with those four colorful puzzle sorting trays, nice but hardly enough for a larger puzzle.

Completed during last week's 2-day snow event

The penguin puzzle was completed and shown above on the felt puzzle mat. I'll confess to some a lot of frustration when first getting started as it's been a few years since my last one.

This 7-pack stacking puzzle trays is coming in handy

Last week, I purchased this set of puzzle sorting trays to continue this new pastime. The price was relatively inexpensive (under $10 Amazon). They've already been filled with pieces from the current jigsaw puzzle. Has anyone else had the same difficulty making these sorting decisions?

Jigsaw Puzzle Facts

Jigsaw puzzle is a specific type of puzzle involving the assembly of interlocking pieces to form a complete image and is made from cardboard, wood or plastic. Puzzle is a broader, term for any problem, game or toy testing ingenuity, like crosswords, Sudoku, logic puzzles, or Rubik's cubes. 

A lover of jigsaw puzzles is called a dissectologist which dates from the 18th-century, when early jigsaw puzzles were known as dissected maps invented in the 1760s. Today, fans are usually known as a puzzler or puzzle enthusiast. 

The term jigsaw puzzle didn't happen until 1906 and comes from the jigsaw, a specialized saw with a thin, fine-toothed blade used to cut intricate, interlocking shapes of puzzle pieces from wood or cardboard. The jigsaw was invented in 1855. 

Jigsaw comes from the nickname jig, used to described the saw's rapid up-and-down motion. The term emerged in the early 20th century when this tool became the production standard. The modern portable jigsaw was introduced in 1947.

Individual parts of a puzzle are called pieces by manufacturers and enthusiasts.

Most 1000-piece puzzles rarely have that many pieces, but range between 999 and 1026. Why? because of manufacturing cuts, grid layouts and rounding for marketing purposes Using rounded numbers, like 1000, is easier to advertise than exact figures like 1026 or 999. 

Start & Popularity of Jigsaw Puzzles

An early dissected map puzzle

Cut out puzzles originated in 1760 when John Spilsbury, a London engraver and cartographer who invented the first known puzzle. by mounting maps onto mahogany wood and cutting it into small pieces along country lines with a marquetry saw. 

Spilsbury called these dissected maps. His goal was to teach geography in a playful manner. They soon became a trendy pastime among adults as well. However, made of wood and handcrafted, only the very wealthy could afford them. Queen Victoria was known to be a puzzle enthusiast, solidifying puzzles as a favorite pastime among the upper class. 

In the 19th century, puzzles gained in popularity among adults becoming a parlor activity. These puzzles were often made from wood with intricate designs and complex cutting patterns. Themes included landscapes and famous paintings to educational subjects.

Cardboard jigsaw puzzles appeared in the late 1800s, but were slow to replace wooden ones. Why? Manufacturers felt that cardboard puzzles would be seen as low-quality, also the profit margins on wooden jigsaws were larger.

Jigsaw puzzles became a craze in the U.S. from 1907 to 1910 and later in Europe. These were typically made from solid wood and were often non-interlocking, which made them a challenge, especially as there was usually no image on the box. (I am so thankful for the full color image in current jigsaw puzzle boxes.)

Popularity climbed during the Great Depression (1929-1939) with long-lasting and recyclable entertainment. The invention of die-cutting and mass-production techniques, made cardboard puzzles attractive, popular and cheaper to mass-produce. Jigsaw puzzles were given away in product promotions or used in advertising with customers completing an image of the promoted product. 

Drugstores, bookstores and supermarkets sold inexpensive die-cut cardboard puzzles and puzzles could be rented for a nickel per night. These often featured movie stars, famous paintings or scenic travel posters. By 1933, U.S. sales reportedly reached millions per week. 

In 1945, after the end of WW II, sales of wooden jigsaw puzzles fell as improved wages led to price increases. The shift to cardboard jigsaw puzzles became a permanent standard making them an affordable hobby. Major revivals happened in the 1970s and the late 1990s, as 3D and mystery puzzles became popular. 

In the 2020s, the demand for jigsaw puzzles surged comparable to that in the Great Depression as people sought indoor activities during the Covid-19 pandemic. I read that Ravensburger, a popular puzzle manufacturer, reportedly sold over 28 million puzzles worldwide in 2020 alone. That’s an amazing statistic.

Currently, jigsaw puzzles remain popular and feature diverse, intricate designs. Top U.S. puzzle manufacturers, recognized for quality and popularity, include Buffalo Games, SunsOut, Springbok, White Mountain, and MasterPieces.

The above puzzle is the next one that’s been started in our home. Most of the outer borders have been completed. Remaining pieces will be sorted in the trays this week.

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This current puzzle uses most of the mat and our dining room table

Did you know that buying jigsaw puzzles can be pricey? The good news is there are less costly alternatives. For example, our local library has a puzzle exchange area. Also, the senior center we're members of has an entire cabinet of donated puzzles in various sizes, free to borrow and return for another selection. These options might also be available in your areas.

Your Turn — Are you a jigsaw puzzle enthusiast (dissectologist) and, if so, do you have a favorite brand or theme ?