5 Facts You Didn’t Know About Playing Cards

A deck of cards is a common thing that a person comes across from time to time. It is a perfect example of ‘good things come in small packages’ because the same deck of cards is used to play simple games as well as complicated games such as bridge, and teenagers use it to show off their magic tricks! But have you ever thought that there might be something more to the same deck of cards? Today we are here to tell you some facts about cards that we’re sure you didn’t know! 

History

Playing cards made their appearance about 900 years ago! They have become a lot more popular over the centuries because of their simplicity and their multiple uses. We are still associated with cards but there has been a great evolution of card games. A part of this association is the growing popularity of online card games like Rummy, Teen Patti, etc.  

The Four Suits

As we know the four suits in a deck of cards are hearts, diamonds, spades, and clubs. This might seem like a random selection of symbols but you will have to dig deeper to find the logic behind this. The original suits were coins, cups, swords, and sticks where each of the suits signified different things like wealth, love, etc.

The Royalty on Cards 

You might know that each of the four suits is based on real and historical figures. The designs are known to have originated from France. They are based on the four kings: Charlemagne (Hearts), Caesar (Diamonds), King David (Spades), and Alexander the Great (Clubs).

The Queen

It is a common misconception that Queen Elizabeth I is represented as the Queen of Hearts. But to our surprise, the Queen of Hearts is actually known to be based on Judith, a biblical figure. 

Jacks and Knaves

Arguing over terminology is a favorite topic of debate among both friends and foes. Coming to cards, Jacks and Knaves is the most arguable topic. This discussion has been going on for years. With K already in use for Kings, Knaves were abbreviated to Kn, which was clearly less than ideal. No wonder J for Jack became the standard.

We hope these facts left you amazed! If there is something more exciting you know about the deck of cards, leave a comment below. Happy gaming! :)