For thousands of years, we have linked playing cards to card tricks, games, gambling and art, but there are also card decks that reflect history.
All cultures and societies have their respective innovations, conflicts and hierarchical structures. And during experiences of greatness and despair, some artists depicted historic moments in time and legendary figures onto playing cards.
South Sea Bubble Playing Cards
In 1720, Thomas Carington Bowles created the satirical South Sea Bubble playing cards. Unlike the smooth card stock that we use today, these cards were printed on copper plates. The cards below depict the South Sea stock market’s fleeting boom and ultimate destructive collapse, which led France into an economic crisis. Click on the image to see close-ups of each card.
The Jack of Hearts in this card collection indicates one of many unfortunate financial situations; this one is based on a distraught South Sea woman who has now lost a large quantity of her riches.
The caption reads: A South Sea Lady having much improv’d, Her Fortune proudly slighted him the Lov’d, But South Sea falling, sunk her Fortune low, She would have had him then, but he cry’d no.
Playing Card Casino
The first legal casino house surfaced in 1638 Venice: The Ridotto. This enabled others to follow suit. During the 17th century, Louis XIV’s finance minister, Cardinal Mazarin, sought to provide revenue for the royal family, so he transformed the Palace of Versailles into a card-playing casino. The cards below feature French soldiers holding detailed playing card flags toward the sky, most likely to praise and glorify this newfound entertainment source.
Both government-controlled and underground casinos created a vast production of card materials. Soon after the introduction of gaming houses, Great Britain began charging a tax on card manufacturing. This led to the infamous Stamp Act of 1765. The tax implementation created strict rules on any forged printed materials like stamps and cards, resulting in felony charges, and in many cases, death.
Stamp Act Excerpts, Playing Card Provisions:And for and upon every pack of playing cards, and all dice, which shall be sold or used within the said colonies and plantations, the several stamp duties following (that is to say)For every pack of such cards, the sum of one shilling.And for every pair of such dice, the sum of ten shillings.
WWII Map Decks
During World War II, prisoners of war used playing card decks to escape from German prison camps. The United States Playing Card Company created card decks that helped at least 32 individuals escape and prompted more than 300 attempts. Once applied with water, the POW would peel back each card to find escape routes. The Escape Map cards will forever illustrate hope and perseverance during a time where danger and uncertainty were prevalent.
The Ace of Spades: Death Cards
Card suits and symbols were printed on more than just decks. During the mid-20th century, the 101st Airborne Division painted the Ace of Spades emblem on their combat helmets for good luck. But in Vietnamese culture, this card symbolizes death, humiliation and suffering.
Two U.S. lieutenants decided to take advantage of this superstition by shipping only Ace of Spades decks to Southeast Asia where they scattered them across villages and the jungle. This caused many Viet Cong fighters to flee at the sight of the Death Cards. Even today, the Ace of Spades depicts psychological warfare used during the Vietnam War.
Legendary Figures on the Court Cards
KINGS
Recognizing court cards (King, Queen and Jack) as prominent figures developed long after the establishment of the modern deck. So, in a way, while this “fact” has been debunked, the association is still true.
For a period of time, and depending on the country, particular famous figures were assigned to a court card. For example, French and British decks identified their court cards with these four monarchs: Charles VII of France, the Biblical figure David, Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar.
You may have noticed slight variations on face cards: Positioning of swords and hands, medieval attire and crown designs. This is no coincidence.
The Suicide King: The King of Hearts features an oddly positioned sword that is piercing the side of his head. Never noticed? Pull out your own deck of cards and look. This is the only King who appears to be stabbing himself in the head with a sword. While the King of Hearts has varied in design throughout the years, there is always one consistency: The act of suicide or harm.
QUEENS
Queen playing cards have many face versions but the most common four figures are Pallas, Judith, Rachel and Argine.
The Breakdown:
Queen of Spades: Pallas or Athena; the goddess of strategic war, courage and inspiration in Greek mythology.
Queen of Hearts: Judith; a Biblical figure and heroine
Queen of Diamonds: Rachel; the wife of Biblical figure Jacob
Queen of Clubs: Argine; anagram of Latin name Regina, which means Queen
JACKS
The Jack face card was previously called a Knave, which means male servant. Eventually, they realized that it did not make sense to have two Ks (with the King and Knave) or even a Kn since the first initial is present on the face cards. But even the new term Jack had its flaws. It was originally used in a demeaning manner, aimed toward lower-class people.
Jack of Spades: Hector, a Trojan Prince
Jack of Hearts: La Hire; member of Charles VII’s court and comrade to Joan of Arc)
Jack of Diamonds: Ogier, one of Charlemagne’s Knights
Jack of Clubs: Judah Maccabee, or Lancelot
COVID-19 Pandemic Depicted on Playing Cards
One day, people will be curious about the historic moments we once experienced – both the good and bad. For example, the Coronavirus pandemic has created an entirely new world for us, where we social distance, wear masks and work from home. Undoubtedly there will be recollections and statistics written in history books but playing cards will also be used to tell stories about the past. We created a collection of COVID-19 Playing Cards with the intention of providing helpful virus tips, suggestions, statistics and more. Like the South Sea Bubble cards, these decks will be great for future generations to discover and interpret historical events.
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Pandemic outbreaks are constant threads in human history. These worldwide infectious diseases date back to as early as 165 CE when the Antonine Plague struck the Roman Empire. A curious observation that has recently circulated the internet is the roughly 100-year disease pattern: 1720 Plague; 1817 Cholera; 1918 Spanish Influenza; 2019 Coronavirus.
It’s difficult to call these repetitions a simple coincidence, but we won’t go into deep conspiracy theories today. Instead, here’s a list of the various card games, playing card designs and board games created during such unprecedented times.
1720: Bubble Playing Cards
The Great Plague of Marseille hit Western Europe in 1720, taking the lives of nearly 100,000 people in France. While England feared the disease would spread to their own country due to the constant use of Marseille’s ports, they were also dealing with the repercussions of the South Sea Bubble. The South Sea stock market collapsed less than a year after it started to boom.
The playing cards featured below satirize the devastating financial crash, detailing both counterfeit and authentic investment trades that ultimately led to the demise of many fortunes. Created and designed by Thomas Carington Bowles, the cards placed both a comical tone on a devastating financial time and helped to subside worries about the disease’s spread.
1817: Durak Card Game
Reports of Cholera can date back to 5th century B.C., but it wasn’t until 1817 that the first Cholera pandemic occurred. Over the course of six years, this disease hit India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, Japan and parts of European territories like Russia.
The card game Durak became popular in Russia during the 19th century. Its exact origin is unclear, but it can be assumed that this game allowed for a decent distraction while Cholera spread throughout Russia. There are numerous sources that label it as the most popular and well-known card game in Russia. Durak’s objective is to avoid being the last player holding cards and requires a 36-card deck.
Durak consists of two types of players: attackers and defenders. A player who leads with the lowest trump card is the first attacker. The player who sits to the left of the attacker is referred to as the first defender. Once a player places a playing card into the middle, an attack is put into place. Defenders will counter this attack by placing a higher-ranking card of the same suit into the middle. Now, if the attacker placed a non-trump suited card into the middle, then a defender simply must play any trump card to beat the card played.
If the defender succeeds, then the attacker can try again by playing a card that shares the rank of the previous card played. Once the first attack/defend ends, the player to the left of the attacker makes their move.
https://youtu.be/3JagmUmUJOc
1918: Uncle Wiggily Board Game
Spanish Influenza caused a global pandemic that killed nearly 50 million people. Some of the authoritative measures taken during this 20th-century pandemic mirror our own methods against the Coronavirus. This included quarantining those who were ill, closing schools and enforcing the value of handwashing and wearing masks.
Playing card games and board games with one’s family increased in popularity during the 20th century. Two years prior to the outbreak, Milton Bradley Co., an American board game manufacturer, transformed the famous novel, “Uncle Wiggily’s Adventures” by Howard Garis, into a board game. The game’s popularity matched that of the novels’, allowing for the series to come to life in a visually appealing manner. While the game has undergone many changes since its publication, it has reigned in popularity for over a century while also having survived the deadliest pandemic in history.
2019: Our Clients’ Card Designs
For the past seven weeks or so, we have been living in an unfamiliar world. Reality hit home when the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) named COVID-19 a pandemic.
We encourage both our clients and prospective clients to continue working on their customized game designs. This is the perfect opportunity to take your mind off of the current situation. Consider creating a playing card project that brings enjoyment and entertainment. Here are some incredible products that we have printed for our clients during COVID-19:
We at Shuffled Ink hope that you are staying safe during this pandemic. Our manufacturing facility is fully operational and ready to assist you! Stay safe, and we will get through this together!
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Decade-by-decade it’s natural for trends to change. Whether it be a new fashion statement or a new board game, we are constantly seeking the “new thing”.
Now, change is inevitable. It’s actually a good thing to accept this ever-changing world. Without it, we would still be throwing sticks rather than
using dice.
As the decade quickly comes to a close, we’ve comprised a list of some of the best board games of each decade. Take a look at how board games have evolved over the years. And you’ll also find a sneak peek into what 2020 may have to offer for the future of board games.
The 1950s: Candy Land
While Candy Land was actually introduced to the world in 1949, it reigned as one of the leading popular games throughout the ’50s. Today, it continues to be popular among children and certainly nostalgic for adults. According to Tim Walsh, an American game inventor and writer, 60 percent of households that have a 5-year-old child, own the game Candy Land. Clearly, its popularity did not cease after the ’50s came to a close. And we are certain that the upcoming ’20s will be no different.
The 1960s: The Game of Life
The Big Game Hunter permanent collection
The Checkered Game of Life 1866 Edition
This game is quite unique because it reached great heights in popularity during its original production in 1860, as well as during its revamp in 1960. This game is the perfect example of how a board game changes with the trends and times. During the 19th century, The Checkered Game of Life was Milton Bradley’s first printed and sold board game. Introduced during Abraham Lincoln’s presidency while slavery was not yet abolished (1865), this first installment was a melancholier board game than what we are accustom to. One of the checkered sections was actually labeled “suicide”. It detailed a man hanging by a noose from a tree branch (see below). If a player fell on this space, they were booted from the game.
The altered 1960s board game naturally varies from today’s version. Those who played during the 20th century would either end the game as an impoverished farmer or they would reside in Millionaire Acres. Today, the concept of rural vs. urban plays a role but is less dramatic and stereotypical. You’ll either end up in Countryside Acres or Millionaire Acres. Nevertheless, both game versions represent a similar goal: reaching happiness in the game of life.
The 1970s: Mystery Date
While the board game Mystery Date was released during 1965, its popularity spiked during the ’70s upon updating. If the tagline doesn’t give too much away, ‘Meet Your Secret Admirer,’ the game was targeted toward young girls. The goal was to land your dream date with one of the boys who waited behind the door while avoiding “the dud” who wore normal clothing. The more admirable suitors were dressed in either formal, beach, skiing or bowling attire. Throughout the years, this game has notably changed its aesthetic to keep up with the varying decades.
The 1980s: Pictionary
In 1987, Pictionary sold 3 million copies. It was then deemed 2nd place on the highest selling games ranking. The top spot was held by the Nintendo Entertainment System. Similar to the idea of charades, players draw hints for their teammates with the end goal of guessing the correct word being sketched. It is the game’s simplicity and the ability to evoke competition that created its popularity during family game nights. Personally, I find Pictionary to be more comfortable to play than charades. Rather than using your body to act out something, you put pen to paper and allow the motionless drawing to do all the action.
The 1990s: 13 Dead End Drive
You may remember this board game from its sensationalized and quirky advertising TV commercials. This murder-themed board game was released in 1993. The objective of the game is to inherit the fortune that was left by the wealthy character Aunt Agatha. The goal is to take down each of your opponents by trapping them in an area that will knock them down and boot them out of the game. Instead of playing on a flat surface with game pieces, this game’s structure implemented a 3-D board to issue a more realistic gaming experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofz_wA-aTI0
The 2000s: Apples to Apples
This board game was released to the public halfway through 1999, as the new decade was approaching. Throughout the 2000s, and even much of the ’10s, this game was a phenomenon. It
brought families with children of all ages together for game night and it wasn’t short of entertainment. I remember playing the game with my parents,
siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins, as we gathered around the living room hoping that our card would be the chosen one. Nearly 15 years later, my family
continues to crack jokes about that family game night.
Funny Story: If you’re wondering why my family still talks about the time we played Apples to Apples during Fall 2009, here’s the story. It was my sister’s turn to be the judge, so she read her adjective card aloud: Annoying. We all quickly and competitively slid our one card to my sister in the hopes that we would get chosen and find ourselves one step closer to winning.
My sister read through each card and decided to pick Patrick Swayze. The adults gasped, wondering why she had chosen the beloved actor who had actually died only a few months prior. My sister responded with, “I just didn’t know who he was, which was annoying. So he gets the ‘Annoying’ card!” My aunts and uncles responded with, “too soon, too soon.” Turns out, my brother had won that round and was ironically using it as a throw-away card. To this day, anytime Patrick Swayze is mentioned we all say, “too soon, too soon.”
The 2010s: Codenames
The original word guessing game was released in 2015. Since then, it has broadened its board game horizons
and created different editions, with the same overall goal but varying concepts manifested.
During Codenames word game, if you are the spymaster in your team of two, your goal is to describe the word(s) to your partner without specifically using any of the words in your set. This game calls for strategy, teamwork and, of course, secrecy. If you have a competitive nature, try this one and play it as a final hoorah to the ’10s decade. (But I’m positive it’ll continue its popularity reign into the ’20s).
The Future: 2020s
At Shuffled Ink, we can manufacture any board game that wish to design. Throughout the years we’ve assisted in the creation of your customized board games, complete with customized accessories, booklets, dice, instructions, spinners, timers, tuck or setup boxes and more.
You all, our clients, are the future of what board games have to offer in 2020. What will board games look like in the future? We have an idea that may or may not be wildly far-fetched.
Nevertheless, that question is for your innovative minds to decide and for us to help make possible.
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Playing Cards Crafted by Jews at Camp Vught
(January 1943 – Sept. 1944)
During World War II in the early to mid-1940s, these handcrafted playing cards were made at an SS (Schutzstaffel, or Protection Squads) camp known as Konzentrationslager Herzogenbus or Camp Vught. During the Holocaust, Nazi Germany built the camp in the Netherlands. Active for nearly 20 months, it reached a max of 9,000 Jews during May 1943.
The Holocaust was the mass genocide of European Jews, where nearly two-thirds of Europe’s Jewish population were murdered. Adolf Hitler, the Anti-Semitic Nazi leader, believed that Jews were an inferior race. Nazi Germany built nearly 44,000 concentration camps for the purpose of ethnic cleansing. Today, we remember the Holocaust survivors and victims through Memorial Museums. Now, handcrafting playing cards did not start in a concentration camp. The process dates back to ancient China, where domino markings would be drawn onto slips of paper. The cards were then brought to Europe during the 14th century, where they sported more hand-painted designs. The origin and invention of playing cards can be attributed to a variety of cultures all around the world, which is why discovering new card designs that reflect the times during the Holocaust is fascinating to find.
Throughout these points in
history, playing cards struck an appeal with a variety of people and cultures for
one reason or another. But it’s undeniable that the cards created at Camp Vught
symbolized a time when people were seeking a source of amusement, as well as a
means to accentuate their artwork.
The Card’s Designs
KINGS / QUEENS / JACKS: These cards represent the SS camp’s authority figures, as they are shown clothed in the British army’s uniform.
ACES: Buildings are illustrated on these cards, including the Protestant church shown on the ace of spades.
JOKERS: It is daunting, yet, unsurprising that these cards portray the prisoners themselves. They are shown pinned with the unlucky number 13 on their chest amid barbed wire and dust.
The handcrafted
playing cards created by the Jews at Camp Vught were preserved by the camp,
which has been turned into a national monument (Nation
Monument Camp Vught).
Despite being created under such devastating and brutal circumstances, the
cards seemed to have played an amusing role during an unamusing time. Nevertheless,
the cards can be added to the long history of playing cards that we continue to
discover.
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At Shuffled Ink, we manufacture both Tarot and Oracle cards. The designs and creative interpretations of these allegorical cards stem from our client’s profound vision.
And as Halloween creeps just around the corner, “spooky” season begins to settle in. Naturally, personalized tarot and oracle cards go hand-in-hand during October.
Whether you visit a fortuneteller for a card reading or read the cards yourself, have you ever wondered the difference between Tarot and Oracle cards?
When you create a Tarot card deck, you are following a standard structure: a set of 78 cards that follow the Major and Minor Arcana. The deck consists of 22 cards following the Major Arcana and 56 cards represent the Minor Arcana.
The Major Arcana portrays picture cards, numbered 0-21. These cards depict the realm of the material world, intuitive mind and change. Some of the titles given to each picture card include ‘The Fool (0),’ ‘The Magician (1),’ ‘The High Priestess (2)’, etc.
The Minor Arcana are issued into four groups with 14 cards in each: Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles. Unlike the Major Arcana, the Minor represents your daily-life happenings.
Oracle cards differ from Tarot cards because they do not follow a straight and narrow arrangement. Someone who customizes their own oracle deck of cards can create their own rules: how many cards go in the deck, the shape of the deck, the card’s images and meanings, the purpose of the deck. While you customize your oracle deck, you are also customizing your own theme.
Oracle decks typically come with an interpretation booklet. This allows the reader to understand the images and words that you have created. When it comes to choosing whether you want to create a Tarot or Oracle deck, it’s all about preference. If you enjoy a preset structure to meet your creative needs, then Tarot Cards are the way to go. But if you would rather start from scratch and draw on your own rules and images, then the Oracle deck is a better route to pursue.
Shuffled Ink is a multigenerational family business specializing in printing custom playing cards, tarot & flash cards, packaging, and more for businesses and individuals worldwide.To receive complimentary samples of our tarot-card products, include your delivery address and phone number on your custom quote request form.
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Expressions and idioms derived from playing cards and card games
As the English language has developed over time, many expressions have entered common usage, which give meanings to words quite different from the literal meanings of the individual words themselves. When this happens it is referred to as an idiom, which is a phrase that doesn’t always follow the normal rules of meaning and grammar.
Many idioms have their background in older phrases that have changed over time, or originate in specialized areas and have come to have a broader usage. So it’s no surprise that a lot of idiomatic expressions in English originate in the world of playing cards and card games like Poker. Not every expression that might seem to be playing card related is necessarily so; for example the idiom “call a spade a spade” actually originates in a first century Greek writing, well before playing cards even existed!
But many expressions and catch-phrases do originate with playing cards and card games, and this just goes to show the tremendous impact that cards and games have had on our culture. In fact, language usage like this is often used by sociologists, anthropologists, and historians, to measure how widely known card games were, because their use in language is clear evidence of their cultural importance and significance.
So let’s learn how card games haven’t just put cards into our hands, but have also put phrases and expressions into our English language!
● Above boardWhat it means: Honest and straightforward, not secret or deceptive.
How it originated: When playing a game of cards, players would show that they were not cheating by keeping their hands above the table, which was originally called a “board”.
● Have an Ace (or card) up your sleeve or Ace in the holeWhat it means: Something important held in reserve, which others aren’t aware of, and can be used to your advantage at the right time.
How it originated: Magicians or cheaters at cards would sometimes literally have a card up their sleeve, that they would sneakily pull out at the appropriate moment. Similar is an “Ace in the hole”, which originates in Poker. Since an Ace is the strongest card, and your “hole” cards are hidden and known only by you, having an Ace in the hole means you have a hidden advantage that becomes known when revealed later in the game.
● All bets are offWhat it means: The outcome of a situation or event is unpredictable.
How it originated: When a game situation is uncertain, for example after an unexpected change, then no players would take any bets due to the uncertainties.
● Ante upWhat it means: Pay the money for something.
How it originated: An ante is the amount of money you put on the table as your bet at the start of a card game.
● Come up trumpsWhat it means: To successfully achieve a better-than-expected outcome.
How it originated: In card games, trump cards beat all other suits.
● Deal inWhat it means: Include someone.
How it originated: In a card game, the playing cards are “dealt” to all the players, so to be dealt in means to be part of the game.
● Dealt a bad handWhat it means: Have bad luck, or receive a disadvantage.
How it originated: No matter how skilful you are, if you are dealt a hand of bad cards, this is hard to overcome!
● Few cards short of a deck or Not playing with a full deckWhat it means: Unintelligent, mentally deficient, somewhat crazy or simple.
How it originated: A deck that has several cards short is obviously incomplete, and can’t function properly for a card game.
● Follow suitWhat it means: Follow someone else’s actions or example, and do what they have done.
How it originated: Especially in trick taking games, players are often required to play a card of the same suit as the person who plays first in a hand.
● Hold all the cards or Hold all the AcesWhat it means: Be in a strong position, with all the advantages.
How it originated: If a player held all the Aces – usually the strongest card – or a winning hand, they had a very strong advantage, and the best chance of winning.
● House of cardsWhat it means: Something unstable, badly put together, and easily destroyed.
How it originated: Building a literal house of cards can be a fun activity, but the result is usually very fragile, and an accidental bump in the wrong place will cause the entire structure to fall.
● In spadesWhat it means: To have something in a large amount, or an extreme degree, as much or even more than you’d want or need.
How it originated: The highest ranking cards in Bridge are the Spades, so if you had cards in Spades you’d be in a good position.
● In the cardsWhat it means: Possible, likely.
How it originated: This originates in the practice of using playing cards (especially Tarot cards) are sometimes used for fortune-telling, to predict the future.
● Joker in the packWhat it means: An unexpected and unpredictable variable that could have a large impact.
How it originated: In many card games the Joker is a “wild card” that can be used as any card, and therefore can be a real game-changer.
● Lay your cards on the table or Show your handWhat it means: Be open, and honestly reveal your intentions or resources for all to see.
How it originated: Games like Poker involve a showdown where players need to reveal their hand and show what they have; prior to laying your cards on the table, or showing your hand, your strength is secret and unknown, and even subject to bluffing.
● Lost in the shuffleWhat it means: Overlooked or bypassed, often in a busy setting or crowded circumstances.
How it originated: The aim of shuffling, naturally, is to lose cards in a deck, so that their position isn’t known or immediately identifiable.
● Overplay your handWhat it means: Overestimate the strength of your position.
How it originated: This is a result of thinking that the cards in your hand are of greater strength and value than is actually the case.
● Play your cards close to your chestWhat it means: Be very secretive or cautious.
How it originated: By literally keeping your cards close to your chest, there is less chance that other players will see them, and discover the strength of your hand.
● Play your cards rightWhat it means: Make the best use of your opportunities to achieve the greatest success possible.
How it originated: Winning a card game requires more than having a good hand – you also need to play your cards right, by deciding when and how to play them.
● Play your last cardWhat it means: Make a final or last-ditch effort.
How it originated: Playing your last card means that after this play, you have no more resources to use.
● Poker faceWhat it means: A expressionless face that gives no indication of feelings or emotions.
How it originated: This is an essential skill in poker, since good players will look for subconscious “tells” in their opponents that might give away what cards they have or whether they are bluffing.
● ShowdownWhat it means: A decisive confrontation or contest.
How it originated: A showdown is the moment in a game of poker when players reveal their cards to determine the winner.
● Stack the deck or Have the cards stacked against youWhat it means: Arrange things to create an unfair situation; or to have things unfairly arranged against you so that you are disadvantaged.
How it originated: “Stacking” a deck of cards means that it has been prearranged in a particular order, which could be done deliberately to disadvantage a player when they are dealt out.
● Strong suitWhat it means: Your strong suit is something you are good at or know a lot about.
How it originated: In a game of cards, a strong suit is the one that you have the most cards of in your hand.
● Trump cardWhat it means: A decisive factor or final resource, often held back, and used to attempt to win if nothing else works.
How it originated: Trump cards beat all other suits in a typical card game, and are often deployed strategically and held in reserve.
● Up the ante or Raise the stakesWhat it means: Increase what is at stake in a discussion or dispute; this can be by increasing your commitment or involvement, or by increasing the importance or danger.
How it originated: The ante is the money you put on the table as your stakes at the start of a card game.
● Wild cardWhat it means: Someone or something with unpredictable or uncertain qualities, which could yet have a big impact.
How it originated: Similar to a Joker, in a card game a Wild Card is a playing card that can have any value or suit chosen by the player.
So now you’re ready to return to real life, armed with some new vocabulary. Some decks of cards will even include clever one-liners that make reference to idiomatic expressions like these, or have clever quotes on the tuck box, like: “Trust everybody, but always cut the cards.”
But even if you don’t have some playing cards in your pocket, you can certainly bring them into your language! Just remember that if life deals you a bad hand, or you find the cards stacked against you, it’s good to keep your cards close to your chest. Don’t immediately lay all your cards on the table, don’t get lost in the shuffle, and don’t make people think you’re not playing with a full deck – otherwise the situation might become a house of cards. Instead, keep an Ace up your sleeve, rely on your strong suit, and play your cards right. You never know what might happen – especially if you have a wild card, or when you play your trump card!
As the 17th century philosopher Voltaire is often quoted as saying: “Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her: but once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game.”
Did we miss your favorite playing card expression? Comment below.
About the writer: EndersGame is a well-known reviewer of board games and playing cards.
He loves card games, card magic, and card collecting. You can see a complete list of his playing card reviews here.
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Families everywhere will ring in 2019 with board games from around the world and unique cultural games. Personally, I bang pots and pans around my neighborhood with my siblings, while in Spain they eat 12 grapes to ensure good luck in each month to come. However, the board games played around the world on this special night sometimes have much more significant meaning and have been played for centuries. Here’s a look at some fascinating games played around the world on New Year’s Eve.
Board Games from Around the World
Italy: Italian Bingo
In Italy, New Year’s Eve celebrations include having a large feast called La Fiesta di San Silvestro, using fireworks and bonfires to ward off evil spirits and playing a board game similar to bingo called Tombola. The Italian version is far more colorful than American bingo and begins the week of Christmas and ends on Jan. 6.
Tombola
• 48-numbered cards
• 720 plastic chips
• 90-numbered balls
• Mark the numbers on the card as they show the numbered balls
Belarus: Rooster Fortune
In this board game from around the world, the board is the ground and the game piece is a live rooster, (Yes, you read that correctly.) Single women in Belarus enjoy predicting who will be married in the new year. The unmarried women sometimes rely on a rooster to determine their relationship status, where the rooster feasts on a pile of corn. The rooster eats the various piles of corn, and whichever pile is eaten first will determine who will no longer be a single lady! In another game, a married woman hides a piece of bread and a ring in two different places in the house. The first unmarried woman to find the bread will marry someone rich, and whoever finds the ring will marry someone handsome.
Card Games Played Around the World
Greece: Card-Playing Marathon
In Greece, the start of the year is traditionally viewed as a fortunate and successful time, where they test their luck by playing cards. If Card-Playing Marathon doesn’t give it away, these games usually are all-night affairs. They start in the early evening and last through midnight, where they play an assortment of card and dice games throughout the night and hope their luck leads them to victory. Some of the card games include:
Pilotta
goal: acquire at least seven cards of the same
rank, or seven cards in sequence in suit
Cultural Games from Around the World
Puerto Rico: Coconut Bowling
In addition to popular board games from around the world, in Puerto Rico they have one game they play that is all their own. They use a coconut as a bowling ball and roll it through their house and then into the ocean to rid themselves of any evil spirits from the previous year. Not only does this game bring good luck, but it also can require a winner if you decide to keep track of points.
Lucky Coconut Bowling
3 to 5 players at a time
Coconut
Create bowling pins (3 to 12) out of empty
plastic bottles
Pick Your Board Game from Around the World
Board games from around the world can inspire you to change your New Year’s traditions by trying one of these board games from around the world. If you want to start a new tradition, ring in 2019 by customizing a board game or card game with Shuffled Ink.
● Official Shuffled Ink website: ShuffledInk
● Make Your Own Custom Card Games at: ShuffledInk
Texas Hold ‘em, 5 Card Draw, 7 Card Stud, Oxford Stud – these are just a few of the different variants of poker you might encounter today. And, when it comes to playing cards, poker is just one of many card games people enjoy. Tracing back the origins of playing cards, it’s safe to say that no one could have predicted how much these games would have evolved and changed. Now, the different variants of poker alone accounts for more games than existed when cards were first conceived.
Of course, the introduction of new games is just one of the changes that have occurred over the years. In fact, playing cards themselves have evolved quite a bit since their inception. Today, let’s take a look at how things have developed.
THE ORIGINS OF THE PLAYING CARD
Some trace the origins of playing cards back to ancient China, where citizens would take slips of paper and draw domino markings on them. Having these on paper made them more affordable than traditional stone tiles and allowed more people to enjoy the game. In the grand scheme of card design, these might be considered the grandparents of playing cards.
It wasn’t until considerably later, about the 14th century to be precise, that playing cards reached Europe. And, this is where all modern card games made their start. Originally hand-painted and often gilded, each deck was uniquely designed and featured elaborate drawings. In the grand scheme, it was still a long way from modern designs. Fast forward to the Renaissance, and the suit system really started to take hold – but there was still a long way to go.
NORMALIZING PLAYING CARDS
In the 1800s, the modern playing card really began to flourish. From Hunt’s first redrawing in 1820, to Charles Goodall in 1860, the card went through variation redrawings and modernizations that closely resembled today’s modern deck designs. With standardized suits and recognizable artwork, these playing cards now had a consistent design that anyone could recognize.
THE RISE OF MODERN GAMBLING
During the early 1900s, playing cards grew in popularity. After World War II came to a close, the trend of playing cards started to grow significantly in popularity here in the United States. And, with the rise of Las Vegas and the introduction of casinos, these games continued to enjoy more widespread acceptance each decade.
Today, the standard 52 card deck has become familiar to all and the four suits are easily recognized. So much so in fact, that now things have gone another direction, with many brands designing their own unique playing cards to stand out. Whether it’s a popular TV show having a deck based on their characters or a company building a custom deck to stand out, the once standard artwork of playing cards has become more colorful once again.
UNIQUE PLAYING CARD DESIGNS
Everyone today has their own idea of what makes for the most effective marketing campaign. In reality, the most effective networking strategy is the one that really makes you stand out from the crowd. Having your own playing card designs is an affordable and effective way to make an impression on your prospects and really cement your brand in the minds of your prospects.
Standing out from the crowd can be tough, but distinguishing yourself with a unique playing card deck may be just what you need. To make your playing cards give us a call at 407-298-3579. When it comes to creating custom orders, we never fold.
Tarot | noun | tar·ot : any of a set of usually 78 playing cards including 22 pictorial cards used for fortune-telling
For centuries, tarot cards have been used in many variations for a number of purposes, including entertainment, knowledge of the paranormal, divination and more. Here are some insider facts about the origins of tarot cards and how they’ve evolved over the years:
TAROT CARD ORIGINS
It’s believed that in the 14th century, Mamluk game cards were brought from Turkey to Western Europe, originating the use of cards designed for playful divination purposes. Later during the 1500s, Italians played a game called “tarocchi appropriati” that involved dealing out cards with thematic associations used to predict stories about each other (similar to the childhood game of “MASH”). In Italy, wealthy families hired artists to design their own unique and expensive tarot card decks, which were then called “carte da trionfi”, or “cards of triumph”.
Similar concepts of tarot cards existed in the Christian Church’s priest memo cards, gypsy cards and even old Egyptian tablets, designed with signature images from the artists on them. In many of these different packs, the images were designed to represent aspects of the real world and with each spread laid out, a new and unique story was told.
Some of the earliest decks were designed for a game like modern-day Bridge─a classic card game of strategy that requires two teams of two players. It wasn’t until the late 1700s when the very first guide to tarot reading was published by Jean-Baptise Alliette and widespread divination use began. Modern-day tarot practice came about in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, originally called “ìRota,î” which means “wheel”, relating the “wheel of life” experience provided by the deck. The best beginner deck was created in 1909 by William Rider and A.E. Waite, known as the still popular Rider-Waite deck. This deck is recommended for beginner readers because it includes a printed reading guide and specific meanings of each card.
HOW TAROT CARDS ARE USED TODAY
Today, tarot cards are used similarly, however in different variations. There are two types of readings, which include question readings and open readings. Additionally, there are many different types of tarot decks designed around themes like nature, fantasy, animals, etc. And while there isn’t a standard number of cards across all decks, all deck suits and their meanings are very similar.
The Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana are the two categories of cards in a standard tarot deck. Major Arcana are the trump cards you typically see depicted as tarot cards and each have a unique meaning. Minor Arcana are four suits of numbered cards 1–10 combined with four suits: wands, swords, cups and circles/pentacles; and four face cards: page, knight, queen and king.
The deck is shuffled and the person being read is dealt spread of cards in specific places, each card in a specific place representing an influence surrounding their life. The reader then discusses each card, how they relate to each other and the different aspects of their life. There are various spread options and ways to personalize the experience for the person being read, such as targeting certain questions about their life with a question reading or addressing monumental life moments with an open reading.
Tarot readers honor their deck as a magical tool and personalize them for their own use, a process known as keying. In a keyed deck, the elements shown on the cards are tied to the real elements in the Universe, creating the magic. With unkeyed cards, you can still lay out spreads, but they will be less accurate than with keyed cards.
Want to learn more about personalizing your own tarot card design, size and packaging? At Shuffled Ink, we offer 100% customization to suit your project’s exact specificities. Request a free quote today for more information.
For thousands of years, we have linked playing cards to card tricks, games, gambling and art, but there are also card decks that reflect history.
All cultures and societies have their respective innovations, conflicts and hierarchical structures. And during experiences of greatness and despair, some artists depicted historic moments in time and legendary figures onto playing cards.
Playing Cards Crafted by Jews at Camp Vught
(January 1943 – Sept. 1944)
Major Arcana Images by 
Art & Divination
Divine Oracle Peele Card
Personalized: Magickal Tools, Candles, Chakras
