National Scrabble Day | History, how to celebrate and play

 National Scrabble Day

On April 13th of every year, National Scrabble Day is celebrated to pay homage to the beloved board game, Scrabble. The game, which was invented in 1938, has been enjoyed by individuals of all ages throughout the years. Scrabble involves using letter tiles to create words on a game board.

National Scrabble Day(Getty)

National Scrabble Day provides an occasion for Scrabble aficionados to acknowledge the game's history and its influence on language and culture. The day can be spent participating in Scrabble tournaments, playing with friends and family, or simply appreciating the pleasure that the game provides.

The day was established to honor the birthday of Alfred Mosher Butts, the creator of Scrabble. Butts was born on April 13, 1899, and his invention has become one of the most widely recognized board games in the world.

Whether you are an experienced Scrabble player or a newcomer to the game, National Scrabble Day is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the power of language and celebrate this timeless classic.

History of National Scrabble Day

Since 2018, National Scrabble Day has been an annual celebration observed on April 13th. However, the origins of Scrabble can be traced back to the era of the Great Depression.

National Scrabble Day(Getty)

In 1938, Alfred Mosher Butts, an American architect, invented the game. Originally called "Lexiko" and later "Criss-Cross Words," the game was renamed "Scrabble" in 1948 after Butts sold the rights to entrepreneur James Brunot.

Scrabble has since become a hugely popular game enjoyed by millions of people worldwide. To honor Butts' legacy and the game's cultural significance, National Scrabble Day was established on his birthday.

The day is an opportunity for Scrabble enthusiasts to celebrate the game, its rich history, and its enduring popularity. Activities include organizing Scrabble tournaments, hosting Scrabble-themed parties, and enjoying the game with family and friends.

In summary, National Scrabble Day recognizes the creation of Scrabble and its impact on popular culture. It provides a platform for enthusiasts to celebrate the game's history and enjoy playing with words.

How to celebrate National Scrabble Day

National Scrabble Day offers numerous opportunities for both experienced and novice Scrabble players to celebrate the occasion. Here are some ideas:

Scrabble playing(Getty)

Host a Scrabble tournament: Invite your loved ones to participate in a friendly Scrabble competition. You can even add a touch of excitement by offering prizes to the winners.

Play online: If meeting in person is not possible, consider playing Scrabble online with friends or strangers from around the world.

Make Scrabble-themed snacks: Use your culinary skills to create Scrabble-inspired treats such as cookies or cupcakes shaped like letter tiles or spell out words on a charcuterie board using letter tiles.

Create a customized Scrabble board: Exercise your creativity to design a unique Scrabble board with your own rules.

Establish a Scrabble club: Create a Scrabble club with your friends or family and play the game regularly.

Expand your vocabulary: Utilize National Scrabble Day to learn new words and improve your vocabulary skills.

Donate a Scrabble game: Share the fun of playing Scrabble by donating a game to a local community center, library, or school.

These are just a few suggestions to help you start celebrating National Scrabble Day. Regardless of how you choose to celebrate, ensure that you have a good time and appreciate the beauty of language.

How to  play Scrabble

Scrabble is a timeless word game that provides entertainment for all ages. The following are the basic steps on how to play the game:

Select the number of players: Scrabble can be played by 2 to 4 players.

Place the tiles in the pouch: There are 100 letter tiles in the game, which should be shuffled and put in a pouch.

Draw seven tiles: Each player should draw seven tiles from the pouch and place them on their rack.

Begin the game: The player who has the letter tile closest to the letter "A" goes first. In case of a tie, shuffle and draw again.

Make a word: Use the tiles on your rack to form a word on the game board. Words must be created left to right or top to bottom, and they should be at least two letters long. Diagonal words are not allowed.

Score points: Each letter tile has a point value, and the score of a word is calculated based on the point value of each letter. Some squares on the board, such as double or triple letter or word score, will increase your point total.

Draw new tiles: After forming a word, draw new tiles from the pouch to replenish your rack. You should always have seven tiles.

Continue playing: The next player must connect their word to an existing word on the board. They can create a new word using any of the letters on their rack.

End the game: The game ends when all the tiles have been drawn, and one player has used all their tiles. The player with the highest score at the end of the game wins.

Scrabble is a game that requires strategic thinking and knowledge of words. By practicing and expanding your vocabulary, you can become a skilled Scrabble player.