Christmas is one of the most wonderful times of the year and a long-celebrated holiday. With it, come some traditions that we do year after year, that can't help but get you into the Christmas spirit - Writing your Christmas cards, baking gingerbread houses or a boozy fruitcake, and spending evenings wrapping up presents once the children have gone to bed - with carols and Christmas music on in the background of course!
While some traditions are widely known, we often have some that are quite personal to us or our families. But how about Christmas traditions for people who love Jigsaw Puzzles?
We asked our lovely customers and social media followers if they incorporate any jigsaw puzzle traditions on the run-up to the holiday season. And of course, they didn't disappoint! Read on to see what they get up, and maybe be inspired to start a jigsaw puzzle tradition of your own?
Big Jigsaw Puzzles
Lots of people got in touch to say that every Christmas, they treat themselves to a bigger jigsaw puzzle, such as 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles with a super festive illustration on the front. As it's a longer puzzling experience, often taking a good few days at a time, they set in on a big table and encourage family members to join in. Even if it's just a couple of pieces, everyone feels accomplished as they work as a team to complete the giant jigsaw! You just have to be careful someone doesn't hoard a piece so they can be the one to finish it!
Others embark on their large piece count jigsaw puzzles as a solo mission - using it to take little mindfulness breaks when they need a breather from festive cheer. And it's ideal to distract themselves from yet another cheesy Christmas film on TV!
Jigsaw Puzzle Advent Calendar
An amazing idea, from none other than our own Minister for Jigsaws, Francesca, who makes these adorable jigsaw puzzle 'advent calendars' for her lucky godchildren. But you could easily make one for an adult puzzler too. Such a fun alternative to a typical chocolate calendar - and it's calorie-free!
How to make a Jigsaw Puzzle Advent Calendar:
- First, choose a Christmas puzzle.
- The next step is quite important, and that is to complete the jigsaw puzzle first! (think of it as a little bonus that you get to do it too!)
- This is because, when you come to split the puzzle up, you want each bag to contain puzzle pieces that connect to each other so they're not completely random and the recipient can piece together a little bit every day.
- Once you've split the puzzle up into 24 roughly equal parts, put each one into paper bags numbered 1 to 24.
- Place in a box and present to the recipient!
Francesca even made a fun little twist this year - the jigsaw puzzle she chose was Animal Friends Nativity. So on the final day, she made sure to include the centrepiece, which was a Baby Jesus Whimsy Piece - what a great finale!
12 Days of Christmas Puzzle Collection
Our Twelve Days of Christmas Puzzles are one of our most popular and best-selling collections. Designed to be a yearly tradition, we started with a ‘Partridge in a Pear Tree’, and each year, we release the next one along in the song.
The range is exclusively designed for us by artist Rachel Arbuckle and all the puzzles have a special cut-out section in the middle, which adds a fun twist and somewhat tricky element.
Lots of customers got in touch to say they had been collecting them year on year! The only problem is that they are so alluring that you may just find others wanting to join in….
Mini Jigsaw Puzzle Competitions
We all know how competitive families get over Christmas time, particularly over a game of Scrabble or Charades.
But how about holding a jigsaw puzzle competition, to get a little friendly rivalry going?
Time yourself and other family members on how quickly you can complete a jigsaw puzzle – Smaller piece count puzzles or our cracker puzzles are perfect for this and a great activity to do after Christmas lunch. Keep a leaderboard, and whoever does the jigsaw puzzle in the fastest time wins, maybe even give a prize… We suggest the first pick of the Quality Street Choccies, or relief from washing up duties!
So what do you think? Would you like to take on any of these traditions next year? Or do you have some of your own that you’d like to share with us too? Be sure to post about them on social media, with the hashtag #WentworthPuzzles. Happy Puzzling!