What do the symbols on playing cards represent?
We all love to play with these cards just about every day but have you ever thought about where they came from or what the King, Hearts, Clubs, Diamonds and Spade represent?
Although they look very different to what we play with today, playing cards go back as far as the 9th century or the Tang Dynasty in China. When and from where modern days cards were introduced to Europe is a matter of contention. It is possible that they even have Indian origins as the symbols found on early European cards bear a resemblance to the ring, sword, cup and baton used in Indian statutes. It is also possible that they arrived from Egypt sometime in the 13th century. In any event, wherever they came from, it is undisputed that their use spread rapidly across Europe during the 14th century although no examples from these early days survive.
The four suits that we are familiar with day are a result of the French influence on the game and date back to 1480. Hearts supposedly represent the clergy, Clubs represent the peasants, Diamonds represent the merchants and Spades represent the Royalty.
It’s a little known fact that the joker is an American invention in about 1870 and was introduced for the game of Euchre.