Today’s holiday recognizes all the games you play on a tabletop—from chess and checkers to Pictionary and puzzles. If you haven’t had a family game night in a while, today’s the perfect excuse to clear off the table and start a fun family competition!
International Tabletop Day was founded in 2013 by Boyan Radakovich, a producer of the popular YouTube Channel, Geek and Sundry, to take a break from video games, and have a reason to crack open a puzzle with friends and family.
Break Out These Facts While Breaking Into a New Game
Some of the most beloved tabletop games have very interesting origins. Did you know that Candy Land was invented in the polio wing of a hospital? Yes, that’s right! In the early 1940s, Eleanor Abbott, a school teacher, was diagnosed with polio. As she spent her days in the hospital, she created Candy Land as an outlet for her imagination and an escape from the polio ward.
Another interesting game origin: Jenga! The very popular tabletop stacking game was created by Leslie Scott. As a child, Leslie and her family developed the game using wooden building block toys from a sawmill in Ghana. The name comes from the Swahili word “kujenga,” which means “to build.”
Tabletop games are a beloved pastime, often passed down through the centuries! Take a look at some of these other board (but not boring) game facts:
The longest game of Monopoly went on for 70 days.
In Chess, the word “Checkmate” comes from the Persian phrase “Shah Mat,” which means “the King is dead.”
There are 50 different versions of Uno.
Whoever goes first in Connect Four can win 100% of the time.
Monopoly’s original name was “The Landlord’s Game.”
Operation started as the college project of a sophomore industrial design student.
Chutes and Ladders (or Snakes and Ladders) originated in India as early as 200 BC.
Scrabble is an official sport in several countries.
There is an international speed-puzzling competition called the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship.
Tonight, dig out some old tabletop games, gather up your family, and dazzle everyone with your newfound knowledge!
Tabletop Puzzles to Get You Started
To blend family competition and education, put together Dr. Livingston’s Anatomy Puzzles. With anatomical reference guides included, learning anatomy has never been so much fun!
Because of their scientific focus, Dr. Livingston’s Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzles make puzzle-building an educational activity for the whole family.
Spleen, stomach, sternum, and skull.
With these anatomy puzzles, no minute will ever be dull!
Dr. Livingston’s Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzles—now available through Science Naturally.