National Crossword Puzzle Day

Fun Facts

• National Crossword Puzzle Day is celebrated on December 21st every year.
• The first crossword puzzle was published in the New York World Sunday paper on December 21, 1913.
• The first crossword puzzle was created by Arthur Wynne and had a unique diamond shape with no black squares.
• Crosswords were originally called "word-cross"  puzzles.
• The NYT publishes the most popular crossword puzzle series but criticized early crosswords as a "sinful waste" of time in 1924.
• A "cruciverbalist" is someone who creates or deciphers crossword puzzles.