Things You Don’t Know About Playing Cards (2023)

Introduction

Playing cards are so common today that we take them for granted. But, have you ever really looked closely at them or wondered what they could mean?Like, who is that suave King that doesn’t have a moustache? Here are 10 Things You Don’t Know About Playing Cards.
Subscribe for more! ► bit.ly/BeAmazedSubscribe ◄
Stay updated ► bit.ly/BeAmazedFacebook twitter.com/BeAmazedVideos instagram.com/BeAmazedVideos ◄
For copyright queries or general inquiries please get in touch: beamazedvideos@gmail.com
Credit: pastebin.com/epMk2vRy

Content

- [Narrator] Playing cards are so common today that we take them for granted.

But have you ever really looked closely at them or wondered what they could mean? Like, who is that suave King that doesn't have a mustache? Keep watching to find out, as we countdown 10 thing you don't know about playing cards.

- Amazing.

- [Narrator] Number.

10, cards, inspired many sayings., Many terms used during card games have been adopted as phrases in general life.

Let's.

Look at a straightforward example, first, to follow suit.

In cards.

This means to play a card, which is of the same suit as the one played prior to it.

In, general language, it refers to a person's actions.

And therefore it means someone has acted in the same way as another person.

To come up trumps had a more interesting.

Evolution.

It is a variation of a saying, which originated in the 17th century, which was to turn up trumps.

This came from the card game Triumph, where the deck was cut to select the trump suit.

If.

You selected a trump suit that matched your hand.

You were at an advantage.

Therefore, to turn up trumps, signified success in the game.

In, the 18th century, this meaning became figurative and is used in day-to-day life to mean having something lucky occur or be unexpectedly, successful., Number nine, how the four suits arose.

It is generally agreed that playing cards originated in China in the ninth century before spreading to many other countries., The, four suits, style, originated in the Middle East as cups, coins, swords, and sticks.

Italian, merchants discovered them in Egypt and imported them to Europe in the mid-1300s.

As cards, spread throughout the world.

Each country put their own spin on elements of the cards.

The German and Swiss cards came to feature.

Hearts, bells, acorns, and leaves.

These European designs are thought to be a representation of the four classes of medieval society:, the church, nobility, middle class, and peasantry.

Hearts are said to represent the Church, and Bells the nobility while Leaves and Acorns, the middle classes and the peasantry respectively.

The four suits.

We know today came into production in France, in the 1480s.

Back.

Then Hearts represented the Church; Diamonds were arrowheads, symbolic of the vassals from whom the archers and bowmen were drawn; clubs, represented clovers, from shepherds and spades, represented knights as they resembled piques, the points of lances.

Nowadays.

Some people believe that playing cards have mystical significance.

And each suit stands for distinct.

Characteristics.

Clubs is said to mean, air, words, and neutrality.

Spades, signifies fire, strength, willpower, and masculinity.

Diamonds is for the earth, wealth, and matter, while Hearts signifies water, love, imagination and the feminine.

Number eight.

Why there is a joker.

The joker card first appeared in printed card decks in the 1860s.

The card was used as the Best Bower, which was an extra trump card in the new American version of the game.

Euchre.

The name progressed from the Best Bower to the Little Joker.

And then the Jolly Joker.

English card decks included.

The Joker just a little later, in the 1880s.

But.

The card didn't always feature.

The quirky jester that we know him to be today.

The joker card had many different designs, such as floral and architectural emblems.

Most, often it featured the card company's logo for brand identity of the deck.

Joker cards are so intriguing that card companies have created entire decks using them.

Because of its uniqueness.

The Joker card has become a sought-after collector's, item., Number seven.

Why the King of Hearts doesn't have a mustache.

If.

You've ever played close attention to the Kings in your card.

Deck, you'll have noticed.

The King of Hearts is unique for a couple of reasons.

One of these reasons is that he's, the only King without a mustache.

So.

Why is that? Unfortunately,? There is no official reason, however, popular belief, abounds.

One of the most popular explanations is that his lack of facial hair, signifies him to be the purest of the four Kings.

Apparently being clean shaven is an indication of goodness.

What seems to be the most logical reason is not related to the King's goodness or vanity, but that he originally did have a mustache.

And it was mistakenly lost through reproduction.

I.

Guess no one ever cared enough to give him his dignity, back.

Number, six.

The King of Hearts is stabbing himself.

The.

Second, unique thing about the King of Hearts relates to his weapon.

Until, the 1800s, his weapon of choice was a battle ax.

And yet today he holds a sword.

Because.

His sword seems to disappear behind his head.

He has been dubbed the Suicide King, with people believing he intends to run his sword through his own head.

The combination of the King of Hearts, hiding a sword behind him, as well as being the only King without a mustache has also earned him the title of the False King.

Because there is belief.

This indicates his devious nature.

It has been debated, whether it's even the King's own hand holding the sword.

And this would lead us to a very different conclusion altogether that he was being stabbed by someone else.

Number five.

Why there are 52 cards in a deck.

It's, the French we can thank for there.

Being 52 cards in a standard deck.

Different countries developed different versions of card decks, which ranged from 24 to 52 cards., The, French version had 52 cards.

And this became the most popular worldwide, spreading easily because of French and English colonialism., 52 seemed to be just the right amount, with card players agreeing.

They could play the best game with this number.

What is very interesting is the relation between a deck of 52 cards and our calendar.

Year.

For.

There are 52 weeks in a year after all and the four suits, align with our four seasons.

If.

You add up the value of all the cards in the deck and add one for the joker, you'll, get 365.

The number of days in a year.

Think that's, a bit eerie? It's, actually just mathematics.

Number four.

The court cards were attributed with personalities of historical figures.

Because.

The court cards obviously represent positions in social hierarchy, over time.

People came to attribute.

Historical, royal figures to these cards.

The Kings are the most well-known, of course.

The King of Clubs represents a lively and energetic nature, which is embodied by Alexander, the Great, one of the greatest rulers of the ancient world., The, King of Spades represents an authoritative and forceful nature, as well as bravery.

The King of Spades is said to be King, David of Israel, biblical and worthy.

The King of Diamonds is noble, distinguished and of a military background, characteristics associated with Julius Caesar.

Traditionally.

This King appears in profile, much like Roman Emperors did on coins.

The King of Hearts is said to be friendly and worthy, and is associated with King Charles of the Holy Roman Empire, also called Charlemagne.

Technically.

He was the only true emperor in this cluster of kings.

Some card manufacturers, even went as far as to print the names of these historical figures on their decks.

Number three.

Why is the Ace of Spades is different? Ever noticed that the Ace of Spades often has a more ornate design than other aces?.

This practice originated in Europe in the 16th century, where there was a tax on the manufacturing of playing cards., During, Queen, Anne's, reign, a stamp was placed on English playing cards after production.

But before entering the market to show taxation had been paid., The, Ace of Spades card was designated as the card, which would show taxation had been paid because it had the largest blank space, which could be stamped.

In 1765.

The Tax Office started printing their own Ace of Spades cards to help prevent forgery.

And it was very ornate in design to make it more difficult to copy.

The Ace of Spades also came to be known as the hanging card because to forge a duty-paid Ace of Spades was punishable by hanging.

In.

The late 19th century, laws were relaxed and card manufacturers could print their own Ace of Spades.

Again.

However.

Many manufacturers chose to keep the more ornate design.

The tax office had used.

Just in case., Number, two, it's possible, a deck of cards has never been properly shuffled and yielded the same result in all of history.

You'll, be aware that there are many ways to shuffle a deck of cards.

The.

Most common are rifle shuffling, as used in casinos, Hindu shuffles, commonly used in Asia, and the overhand shuffle, which is perhaps the easiest technique.

Any of these techniques, particularly when followed by a cut of the deck, ensures, a proper shuffle has taken place.

This means the cards result in an unpredictable order.

The.

Number of order possibilities in a 52-card deck is approximately the number eight, with an incredible, 67 zeros following it.

It's actually a bit larger than this number.

But this is the easiest way of explaining it.

To.

Give you some perspective.

Imagine shuffling just 20 cards., The order.

Possibilities equate to 2.5 billion billion.

No wonder you can't yield the same shuffle order.

The probability is mind-blowing to comprehend.

Number, one, design secrets behind Bicycle, cards., The, United, States, Playing, Card, Company owns Bicycle, brand cards, which are the most iconic cards worldwide, originating from the first back design, which featured penny-farthing.

But Bicycle hid, some incredible design secrets in their cards in past generations and also manufactured their cards for some notorious.

Purposes.

Bicycle-Brand cards were sent to American Prisoners of War in World War II.

And the Vietnam War.

When.

These special cards were peeled apart and put in a particular order.

They contained maps to help the Prisoners of War escape.

Bicycle, Spotter Decks were also produced at this time, to help American soldiers, identify aircraft, tanks and ships belonging to other nations.

In 1966, during the Vietnam War, entire crates of just Ace of Spades cards were sent to Americans soldiers to leave on bodies of dead.

Viet.

Cong, soldiers.

This had been prompted by two lieutenants writing to the United States, Playing, Card Company, because it was believed that the Viet Cong were superstitious of them as they were a symbol of death.

Despite it being a myth, it at least improved the morale of American troops.

Did.

You know, any of these things about playing cards? What surprised you the most? Let me know in the comments.

Also.

If you enjoyed this video, please subscribe to this channel and click that bell icon to stay notified, we'll, be making more videos like this in the future.

Thanks for watching.

(dramatic music).