Cards are a favorite game of many enthusiasts. It is difficult to find a person who has never played a fool or a drunkard in his life. However, in the modern world they are used not only for entertainment, but also for tricks, solitaires and fortune-telling.
Maps originated in China during the Middle Ages. Instead of the usual ones, special plates made of paper, ivory or wood were used, where the figures were placed. It is interesting that in Japan they were made from mussel shells. They were mostly decorated with flowers and landscapes, and they had an exceptionally entertaining character.
A deck of playing cards contains 36 units, which in turn are divided into four separate categories - suits. They are characteristic business cards, as they indicate the element and purpose. Each of them has a symbol - it is a kind of sign of belonging. So, how many suits are there in the cards and how do they differ from each other?
Suits of cards
There are 4 suits in a deck of 36 playing cards. These are spades, clubs, tambourines and clubs. The most common version is French. German and Spanish have four suits similar to the previous ones, known by their apt names:
- wine, fat, bell and chirva, meaning respectively all the above suits (German version);
- swords, staves, coins and bowls (Spanish).
To this day, it is difficult to determine the origin: heart, acorns, bells and ivy leaf, which respectively mean a separate link.
It can be assumed that these categories symbolize the main items of a knight's kit:
- pika - spear;
- trefa - sword;
- tambourine - flag;
- chirva is a shield.
According to Menestrie, the Spaniards interpreted these concepts according to the different classes of society at that time:
- swords - nobles;
- rods - peasants;
- coins - traders, merchants;
- bowls - higher clergy.
Most poker formats use the French version. The standard deck contains 54 cards, of which 52 are the main cards (each of which belongs to one of these suits) and 2 special ones - jokers, which differ in their images. Thus, each suit contains 13 cards, starting with the 6 and ending with the ace.
Who invented card suits?
There is no definitive answer about the origin of playing card suits, but there are several versions. One and the most likely indicates that the modern image appeared on the territory of China in the 10th century AD. In particular, images of swords, wands, coins and bowls were widely used. The most famous is the European medieval theory. She says that it was during the Middle Ages that the symbols of swords, wands, coins and cups were spread. The third assumption is Islamic. Swords, tents, coins and glasses were already widespread in the culture of these peoples.
As for the meaning, they come from the names of household items of French knights or different classes of the social masses.
And modern suits were finally formed in Europe in the 14th and 15th centuries. Since then, they have been firmly rooted in European culture and have spread all over the globe. The symbols and names have also changed, but their basic structure has remained and includes 4 main categories.
What do card suits mean?
Many lovers of card games tried to decipher the symbolism of the suits. Cards came to Ukraine from Western Europe - from Germany and Poland. This fact is key in explaining their names:
- "wine" (spades) - from the German - suit in the form of grape leaves;
- "acorns" (clubs) is a word consonant with our "acorn";
- "bells" (tambourines) mean bells.
In Christianity, the biblical essence is embedded under these symbols. The spade means the spear with which Jesus Christ was pierced, the club symbolizes the crucifixion, the tambourine is the sponge with which the Lord's lips were moistened, and the cherva is the very heart of Jesus.
In Tarot cards, suits are associated with the four main elements that form the Cross of Elements: swords - air, pentacles - earth, wands - fire, cups - water.
- The suit of swords represents thoughts, reason, action, conflict and decision-making.
- The suit of pentacles means money, material goods, work and health.
- The suit of wands symbolizes energy, determination, passion and motivation.
- The suit of cups represents feelings, emotions, creativity and intuition.
In addition, each category represents a separate season: swords - winter, coins - autumn, wands - summer, bowls - spring.
Why is the suit called spades?
In ordinary playing cards, the suit got its name due to the characteristic geometric shape of the symbol, which resembles a spearhead or an arrowhead. In addition, there are several more thorough explanations.
In Europe during the Middle Ages, pikes were a common weapon, and the image was associated with belligerence and physical strength.
The word comes from the French "pique", which means spear. It is related to the Spanish word "espada", which means sword.
Since ancient times, it has been associated with wars, chivalry and victory.
Therefore, the name was fixed due to the visual similarity and symbol of the weapon, the historical and cultural heritage of mankind.
Why is the suit called a cross?
Clubs are a symbol that many associate with the Christian cross. Externally, the image on the cards resembles the traditional shape of the object with crossed beams.
In the Middle Ages, where modern maps were born, Christian symbolism was widespread. That is why the image of the cross took root in this tradition.
The word "trefy" comes from the French "trefle", which translates as "clover" or "clover". And since these plants have a characteristic shape, an association with church symbolism arises.
The cross is a symbol of power, spirituality and authority. Thus, this suit has become entrenched in culture due to its visual resemblance to the Christian cross and general church associations.
Why is the suit called diamond suit?
The suit is called a diamond suit because of the special diamond shape that is marked on the playing cards. In another way, it is compared with a geometric equilateral quadrilateral.
The etymology of the name is quite interesting. The word itself is associated with the French "carreau", which means square. So the name reflects the rhombic shape of the symbol.
Back in Ancient China, the suit was marked on decks of the first playing cards by a sign similar to a diamond-shaped tile, a brick. This is where the name comes from.
Thanks to visual associations, the rhombic shape can be associated with a diamond, which contributed to the name of the tambourine "diamonds".
So, the name is related to the characteristic geometric shape of the suit, i.e. with a rhombus or a regular quadrilateral.
Why is the suit called red?
The suit got its name from the word "red", because it is colored red. The image on the cards is different from other suits, such as black or dark red (knights) symbols.
The word itself is consonant with the root "belly", which means red in Slavic. This name fully reflects the symbol of the suit.
In French decks, the suit is called "coeur", which means "heart". However, in other European decks it comes from the word "red".
Red color is a symbol of passion, emotions and love. Therefore, the red suit is closely related to the sphere of feelings.
Thus, due to the dominant red color, the suit got the name chirva.
Modern cards are not just a set of paper cards for playing or divination. This is a complete system of signs and images that are components of culture. You are now one step closer to understanding this system, armed with the knowledge that what are the suits of cards called how many there are and what they mean.
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