Give the Gift of Words This Christmas. Give Scrabble!

Some Christmas presents are enjoyed for a few days before being quietly put away. A Scrabble set, however, can keep coming back to the table for years.

For That’s Christmas 365, it’s a lovely gift idea for word lovers, keen readers, couples and families who enjoy a little friendly competition. 

Add a bowl of chocolates, some nuts and some Christmas biscuits, something warming to drink and a comfortable afternoon, and you have the makings of a thoroughly enjoyable Christmas gathering.

There’s something satisfying about arranging those little tiles, discovering a word you hadn’t spotted and finding the perfect space on the board. Then comes the inevitable conversation: “Are you absolutely sure that’s a real word?”

A Scrabble dictionary makes a useful companion gift, and might help preserve the festive peace!

But here’s another thoughtful extra: give your recipient a short-word reference card.

Long words look impressive, but two- and three-letter words can be remarkably useful. They help players squeeze into small spaces, connect with existing words and make the most of awkward letters. Sometimes a tiny word creates a surprisingly rewarding move.

Print the following starter selection, mount it on card or laminate it, and tuck it into the wrapping with the game. You could call it “Small Words, Big Possibilities!”

Allowable two-letter words

AM, AN, AS, AT, AX, BE, BY, DO, EX, GO, HE, HI, IF, IN, IS, IT, ME, MY, NO, OF, OH, ON, OR, OX, QI, SO, TO, UH, UM, UP, US, WE, XI, XU, YE, YO, ZA.

Allowable three-letter words

ACE, ACT, ADD, AGE, AIR, AND, ANT, APE, ARM, ART, ASH, ASK, ATE, AWE, AXE, BAG, BAT, BED, BEE, BOX, BOY, BUN, BUS, CAT, CUP, DOG, EAR, EAT, EGG, ELF, JAM, JAR, JAW, JET, JOY, QAT, QIS, VEX, WAX, ZIP, ZOO.

These are starter selections, rather than complete lists, checked against Collins’ Scrabble word lists. Agree which dictionary you will use before playing, as different editions and regional word lists can differ.

For relaxed Christmas games, you might allow everyone to consult the card. Give each player a copy so newcomers can enjoy the same help as experienced wordsmiths.

A notebook and pencil for keeping scores would complete the package beautifully. You could even include a handwritten promise: “This present comes with an afternoon of Scrabble together.”

Because the best part of this Christmas gift may be the time you spend enjoying it.

The below piece is designed to be printed off as an extra gift:- 

THAT'S CHRISTMAS 365

SMALL WORDS, BIG POSSIBILITIES!

A bonus present for your new Scrabble game

A starter selection of allowable two- and three-letter words.

These are examples, rather than complete lists.

Reference: Collins Scrabble words (UK/international play).

Agree your dictionary before playing; other editions can differ.

TWO-LETTER WORDS

AM AN AS AT AX BE BY DO EX GO

HE HI IF IN IS IT ME MY NO OF

OH ON OR OX QI SO TO UH UM UP

US WE XI XU YE YO ZA

THREE-LETTER WORDS

ACE ACT ADD AGE AIR AND ANT APE ARM ART

ASH ASK ATE AWE AXE BAG BAT BED BEE BOX

BOY BUN BUS CAT CUP DOG EAR EAT EGG ELF

JAM JAR JAW JET JOY QAT QIS VEX WAX ZIP ZOO

Try learning a few at a time. AX, EX, OX, QI, XI, XU and

ZA are particularly handy when awkward tiles arrive!

Friendly Christmas house rule: if you allow reference cards

during a game, make the same help available to everyone.

Official lists and definitions:

https://scrabble.collinsdictionary.com/word-lists/two-letter-words-in-scrabble/

https://scrabble.collinsdictionary.com/word-lists/three-letter-words-in-scrabble/

Merry Christmas - and may your letters fall kindly!

National Scrabble Day: The Perfect Christmas Game for Word Lovers

Every year on 13 April, word enthusiasts celebrate National Scrabble Day, honouring one of the most beloved board games ever created. 

While the date marks the birthday of Scrabble’s inventor, Alfred Mosher Butts, the game itself has long been a staple of family gatherings, especially during the festive season.

For readers of That’s Christmas 365, National Scrabble Day offers the perfect excuse to revisit a classic that has entertained families for generations during cosy winter evenings.

A Game Born From the Love of Words

Scrabble was created during the Great Depression when Alfred Mosher Butts set out to design a game combining skill and chance. He analysed newspapers and magazines to determine how often each letter appeared in English and used that research to balance the game’s tile distribution.

The result was a deceptively simple game: players create words on a board using letter tiles, earning points based on letter values and bonus squares. Yet beneath that simplicity lies endless strategy.

Since its commercial launch in the late 1940s, Scrabble has become a global phenomenon played in dozens of languages and enjoyed by millions.

Why Scrabble Feels So “Christmas”

Although National Scrabble Day falls in spring, the game’s spirit fits beautifully with the festive season.

Think about the traditional Christmas afternoon:

The turkey has been eaten.

The crackers have been pulled.

The television is murmuring in the background.

Sooner or later someone suggests a board game.

For many households, Scrabble appears on the table alongside other festive favourites. It’s quiet enough for relaxed conversation, competitive enough to spark playful rivalry, and satisfying when someone lands a brilliant word on a triple-word score.

Festive Scrabble Traditions

Some families even develop Christmas-themed twists on the game:

Christmas Word Bonus

Extra points for seasonal words like tinsel, reindeer, pudding, or mistletoe.

Team Scrabble

Ideal for larger festive gatherings. Couples or family members play as teams, debating the best words together.

Christmas Dictionary Rule

Allow unusual festive terms or dialect words to keep the game lively and unpredictable.

A Perfect Screen-Free Christmas Activity

In a season often dominated by screens, Scrabble offers something refreshingly analogue. It encourages creativity, vocabulary, and conversation, all while bringing people around the same table.

It also spans generations. Grandparents, parents, and children can all take part, making it one of the rare games that truly bridges age gaps at Christmas.

Celebrate National Scrabble Day

So when National Scrabble Day arrives on 13 April, it’s worth pulling the board out of the cupboard and giving it a spin. You might even discover a new family tradition ready to take centre stage when Christmas rolls around again.

After all, few things feel more festive than sitting by the fire in December, cup of tea in hand, quietly plotting how to place QUIZZED across a triple-word score.

And yes, arguments about whether a word is “real” are absolutely part of the tradition.

How to Host the Ultimate National Scrabble Day Party

Image courtesy Hans of Pixabay

If you’re a lover of language, board games, or just the thrill of a good word battle, National Scrabble Day (13th April) is the perfect excuse to throw a themed bash! 

Whether you're an avid player or just looking for a unique way to connect with friends and family, a Scrabble-themed party is a guaranteed triple-word score of fun. 

Here's how to organise a gathering that would make Alfred Butts (the creator of Scrabble) proud.

Set the Scene: Invitations with a Twist

Send out invitations that look like oversized Scrabble tiles, or use wordplay to craft clever invites. You could use phrases like:

“You're invited to spell it out with us!”

“Let’s get lexical on National Scrabble Day!”

Encourage guests to RSVP with a word that describes how they’re feeling about the party—bonus points for unusual or high-scoring words!

Decor: Wordy and Wonderful

Transform your space into a word-lover's paradise:

Create bunting out of Scrabble tiles.

Hang up posters with quirky or rare words and their definitions.

Set up a “Word Wall” where guests can add their own favourite or made-up words during the night.

Use tablecloths or runners that resemble the Scrabble board layout.

Dress Code: Letters and Laughs

Invite guests to come dressed as their favourite letter or word. Want to up the ante? Hand out letter badges at the door and challenge everyone to form words with their outfits or by standing in the right order for photos throughout the night.

Themed Food & Drinks

Word games can work up an appetite! Try these ideas:

Alphabet biscuits or cupcakes with individual letters on top.

“Triple Letter” cocktails (three-ingredient drinks named after high-scoring words).

Create a menu board with silly or Scrabble-inspired names for each item (“Quesadilla Quixotic”, “Bingo Brownies”, “Zesty Zucchini Bites”).

Games & Activities

Of course, the star of the show is Scrabble itself, but there are loads of fun ways to keep everyone entertained:

Scrabble Tournament: Create a mini bracket system and crown the champion wordsmith.

Speed Scrabble: Fast-paced rounds with a timer.

Word Challenges: Give guests tricky letters and see who can form the best words in 60 seconds.

DIY Tile Hunt: Hide large Scrabble-style tiles around the venue for a scavenger hunt, and challenge guests to form the highest-scoring word from the letters they find.

Prizes & Favours

Don’t forget to reward your top spellers and most creative players! Prizes could include:

Mini Scrabble keyrings

Personalised notepads with witty wordplay

A copy of the official Scrabble dictionary

A “Word Nerd” trophy for the overall winner

Send everyone home with a small bag of letter-shaped sweets or a bookmark with a famous quote about words or language.

Capture the Fun

Set up a photo booth with letter props and word bubbles like “ZANY!”, “QUIZZIFY!”, or “WORD WIZARD!” It’ll make for great memories and Insta-worthy content.

Final Word (pun intended)

Celebrating National Scrabble Day with a themed party is a brilliant way to bring people together for a night of clever conversation, friendly competition, and plenty of laughs. Whether you’re a lifelong logophile or just enjoy a good pun, you’re sure to have a spellbinding time.

So dust off that board, grab your tiles, and start planning—because it's time to get your Scrabble on!