Why does a deck of playing cards have 52 cards?

How many cards are there in a deck? Which is the highest: hearts, diamonds, spades, or clubs? Let's find out together!

Have you ever wondered why a standard deck of playing cards always contains exactly 52 cards? The most commonly accepted answer is that the four suits represent the four seasons, with 13 cards in each suit representing the thirteen weeks in each season, resulting in a total of 52 cards — representing the fifty-two weeks in a year.

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Here are some interesting things hidden inside these magical cards.

A deck of cards, also known as a deck of cards, consists of 54 cards. The 52 cards are usually divided into 4 suits: diamonds, hearts, clubs, spades, and the cards K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, A.

The remaining two cards are two Jokers, also known as clowns.

Origin of the deck

China is where the first deck of cards appeared in the world around the 9th century, during the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907). At that time, they were made of paper and were a popular game among the nobility. This deck of cards was brought back to their country by Western merchants.

In Europe, the Western deck of cards appeared around the 12th century with the four original "suits" of hearts, bells, leaves and acorns and had no special meaning.

In the late Middle Ages, the deck of cards was changed to represent the four feudal classes: coins, cups, swords, and clubs. Coins represented the merchant class, cups represented the church, swords were the symbol of the military, and clubs were the lower class of farmers.

When the Renaissance period came, the cards also changed their suits and meanings, similar to today's cards of hearts, clubs, dragonflies, and spears. Clubs are the heart, representing a noble and elegant soul. Diamonds represent wealth and power. Clubs represent the peasant class. Spades, its meaning is not yet determined, but many people think it is a spear, a lance - a popular weapon of the Renaissance period.

Why are the decks red and black?

A distinctive feature of playing cards is the division of colors—red and black. The choice of these colors is not arbitrary; it has historical and cultural significance. Red cards, which include hearts and diamonds, are often associated with positivity, passion, and warmth. Black cards, which represent spades and clubs, are often associated with mystery, darkness, and seriousness. In the Calendar icon below, red and black represent day and night.

In the game of bridge, clubs and hearts are considered the main suits, the rest are the side suits.

Why does a deck of playing cards have 52 cards?

• 52 cards are 52 weeks in a year.
• The 12 cards in the deck correspond to the 12 months of the year.
• The 4 suits of clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades in a deck of cards correspond to the 4 seasons of the year.
• 13 cards of the same suit in the deck correspond to the total number of weeks in each season.
• The 2 Joker cards represent the Moon and the Sun.
• When we add up the points for each card (J is 11, Q is 12 and K is 13, Joker is 1) we get a total of 53 cards which is 365, the number of days in a normal year and if we add up both Jokers the total will be 366, the number of days in a leap year.
• The two colors black and red appear mainly representing male (black) and female (red).

Other theories and historical influences may have contributed to the specific number of cards in a deck. Here are some possibilities:

• Tarot Influence: Some theories suggest that the number 52 is influenced by the Tarot deck, which consists of 78 cards. The Tarot deck consists of 56 Minor Arcana cards divided into four suits (Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles), similar to the suits in a standard deck. The remaining 22 cards in the Tarot deck are the Major Arcana. It is possible that the standard deck was derived from the Tarot deck, with the Major Arcana cards removed, resulting in a 52-card deck.
• Numerological Meaning: Numerology, the belief in mystical meanings of numbers, may have played a role in determining the number of cards in a deck of cards. The number 52 may be considered significant due to its mathematical properties. For example, 52 is divisible by 13 (number of cards per suit) and by 4 (number of cards per suit), creating a balanced and divisible arrangement in the deck.
• Practical Considerations: The size and composition of the cards can affect how many cards are in a deck. A 52-card deck strikes a balance between having enough cards for a variety of games while maintaining a manageable size for shuffling, handling, and storage. This is a practical compromise that allows for versatility and ease of use.