National Card Playing Day: Cards were once played with tree leaves, its form changed in France, why are bets made with it in casinos?

Someone must have played a card game at some point or the other. People often play cards in casinos on Diwali or on the occasion of New Year celebrations on 31st December. The fun of playing this game with friends and family at home is different. In the village, elders would often be seen playing this game in the shade of trees on the Chaupal. Some people also gamble with it. After Corona, this game also became digital. 28th December To National Card Playing Day It happens.

Tree leaves were the world’s first playing cards
Playing cards originated in China. The Tang dynasty ruled there in the 9th century. In the book ‘Collection of Miscellanea at Duyang’ written by Tang Dynasty writer Su Ee, it is told that Tongchang, daughter of Chinese King Yizong, used to play card games with tree leaves with her in-laws. It was called Leaf game. At that time there were no numbers or symbols on it. When this game reached Europe, wooden playing cards started being made. These were quite heavy. That’s why most people did not like to play it. After this, playing cards started being made from paper and this game spread all over the world. The current design of the playing card was designed by France Agen in 1745.

Mughals started this game in India
Historian Amarjeev Lochan says that the custom of playing cards in India was started by the Mughals. During the reign of Babur in the 16th century, cards were played in leisure time. It was called Ganjifa. These leaves were made by hands. Gradually these leaves became famous in villages, cities and towns. Before the year 2000, playing cards were seen in every house. People used to play this game at night. Playing cards on Diwali is still considered auspicious.

In Europe, cards were played with Tarot cards (Image-Canva)

Only rich people played cards
In the beginning, playing cards were made by hand in Europe. These were very expensive because of their colorful handicraft designs. The common man could not buy it, so only rich people used to play cards. The playing cards designed for the French royal family Boules are the most expensive playing cards in the world. Their price is Rs 3 lakh. However, when printing machines were invented, cards started being printed in good numbers, due to which their price came down and they became accessible to the common people.

Once upon a time cards were calendars
A pack of cards contains 52 cards with which many types of games are played like Maang Patti, Duggi Pe Duggi, Flash, Rummy, Bluff, Call Break, Poker, Coat-Peace. Gambling is also played with cards. It ranges from 1 to 10 i.e. from Ace to Dahala. Also there are sets of different symbols like Spades, Hearts, Bird, Brick, Slave, Queen, King. When there were no calendars, people used to count the days using them. There are 52 weeks in 365 days and 52 cards of cards show these days. Bird, Brick, Heart and Spade represent the four seasons.

Got a chance to play cards in airlines
Today, when passengers are in flight, they travel by listening to movies or songs on mobile, laptop or tablet installed in the plane. Today these gadgets are a source of entertainment in their free time, but when all these gadgets did not come, people used to travel by playing cards in the plane. America’s Delta Airlines started it. Air New Zealand also had its playing cards printed which it gave to passengers to play. This trend started in 1920 and continued till 1970, but after this, passengers did not have much interest in it.

Every year 27 million decks of cards are used in Las Vegas, America (Image-Canva)

Special kind of playing cards made for American soldiers
Playing cards were also used on the battlefield. Cards became a means of conveying information among the soldiers. In the military they are considered as educational tools. During World War II, the United States Playing Card Company designed playing cards depicting American, British, German, and Japanese aircraft. Maps were also made on it. When America invaded Iraq in 2003, soldiers were distributed playing cards to identify the enemy. These were named Personality Identification Playing Cards. The names and addresses of all the high position members associated with Saddam Hussein were printed on these leaves.

gambling with cards
In India, gambling is not illegal in Sikkim, Goa, Daman-Diu and Nagaland. Gambling is played here with cards. In the casinos of Goa, bets are made with cards and they are also lost. Cards are a marketing tool that determines the price of a bet. During the New Year celebrations, casinos come up with new schemes so that more and more customers come. The custom of gambling is very old. Apart from gambling, cards are also used by magicians to perform magic and artists to showcase their art.

Tags: China, european union, Games, Goa, United States of America