Scrabble is one of the most popular word games ever made, played in homes, schools and tournaments around the world. National Scrabble Day, on April 13, celebrates the game and honors the birthday of its inventor, Alfred Mosher Butts. Whether you are a casual player or a dictionary-memorizing competitor, it is a great day to pull out the board, draw seven tiles and see what words you can make.
History of National Scrabble Day
Alfred Mosher Butts, an architect from New York, was born on April 13, 1899. During the Great Depression, after losing his job, he decided to invent a new game that combined luck and skill. In 1931, he created a game called Lexiko, and later developed it into Criss-Crosswords. Butts studied the frequency of letters in newspapers, such as The New York Times, to decide how many of each letter tile to include and how many points they should be worth.
At first, game companies rejected Butts' idea. In 1948, entrepreneur James Brunot bought the rights, made some changes, and renamed it Scrabble. Sales were slow until 1952, when the game suddenly became a hit. Demand grew so fast that it was licensed to a larger manufacturer.
Today, Scrabble is sold in many countries and languages, and competitive Scrabble has national and world championships. Who first designated National Scrabble Day is not documented.
Why National Scrabble Day Matters
Scrabble builds vocabulary, spelling, math and strategic thinking. It is a game that people of all ages can play together.
It also shows how a creative idea, developed during hard times, can become a lasting success.
Word games like Scrabble have also been linked to keeping minds active as people age, and they offer a screen-free way for different generations to spend time together. Competitive players memorize thousands of words, including all the valid two-letter words, which shows how deep the strategy can go. Yet a casual game with family can be just as rewarding as a tournament win.
How to Celebrate National Scrabble Day
- Play a game: gather family or friends for a Scrabble match.
- Learn new words: study two-letter words that help score points.
- Play online: try a digital word game with friends far away.
- Host a tournament: organize a friendly competition.
- Learn the history: read about Alfred Mosher Butts.
Celebrating at Work, School and Home
At work, host a lunchtime Scrabble tournament or a word-of-the-day challenge in the team chat. In classrooms, Scrabble is a great tool for spelling and vocabulary practice; students can calculate point values of spelling words, play in teams, or design their own word games. At home, families can play a game together, letting younger children use a dictionary or team up with adults. Try a themed game where all words must relate to a topic, or play with relaxed rules to keep it fun.
Fun Facts About National Scrabble Day
- Alfred Mosher Butts was born on April 13, 1899.
- Butts studied newspaper letter frequencies to set tile values.
- The game was named Scrabble in 1948.
National Scrabble Day FAQs
When is National Scrabble Day?
National Scrabble Day is April 13.
Who invented Scrabble?
Architect Alfred Mosher Butts.
What was Scrabble originally called?
Lexiko, and later Criss-Crosswords.
What is the highest-scoring letter?
Q and Z are each worth 10 points in the English edition.