Tarot

What it is

Tarot refers to two distinct types of card packs that share a common history. The first type consists of playing cards designed for trick-taking games across Europe. The second type comprises specially printed decks used for cartomancy, or fortune-telling. While the gaming cards follow regional rules for play, the divinatory cards assign specific archetypes and meanings to each image. Both forms utilize a standard structure of four suits and a separate series of trump cards.

Where it comes from

The earliest records of tarot cards appear in northern Italy during the mid-fifteenth century. Cities such as Milan, Ferrara, Florence, and Bologna produced hand-painted decks known initially as trionfi. These early packs added allegorical trump cards to existing four-suit designs. Scholars trace the roots of European playing cards to Egyptian Mamluk decks introduced before the fourteenth century. The printing press later allowed these designs to spread beyond Italy into France and Switzerland.

How it is done

In its original context, tarot serves as a game where players win tricks by following suit or playing trump cards. Divination practices emerged much later, driven by French occultists in the eighteenth century who attached elaborate historical and symbolic meanings to the images. Readers interpret the cards based on assigned archetypes to predict future events or analyze character traits. This method relies on the specific imagery of the deck rather than the mechanics of gameplay.

Tools and materials

A complete tarot deck contains seventy-eight cards. Four suits typically include batons, coins, cups, and swords. Each suit holds ten numbered cards and four face cards representing royalty. A separate group of twenty-one trump cards features allegorical figures. A single card called the Fool often acts as an exception to the standard rules. Regional variations alter the names and order of these trumps, but the core structure remains consistent.

What it is for

People use tarot for entertainment through competitive card games or for spiritual insight through divination. Fortune-tellers employ the cards to foresee outcomes or explore personal matters. Gamblers use the same physical objects to test strategy and luck within established regional rule sets.

Who does it

Historical tarot was played by households and nobility across Europe. Modern practitioners include professional readers who specialize in cartomancy. Scholars study the history and symbolism of the decks. Gaming communities maintain traditional rules in countries like France and Austria. Training involves learning the specific interpretations of card combinations or mastering complex regional game strategies.

Peoples and places

Tarot originated in Italy and spread throughout central and western Europe. France maintains a strong community for both gaming and reading. Austria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia continue popular regional card games. Italy preserves local variants like Tarocchini. The Swiss and Germans also retain specific historical versions. The British Isles and Iberian Peninsula largely avoided these traditions.

What people believe

Divinatory tarot rests on the belief that card images hold hidden knowledge about fate and human nature. Eighteenth-century occultists proposed connections to ancient Egypt, though historians view these claims as unsubstantiated. Players in the gaming tradition believe in skill, probability, and adherence to established rules. The symbolic system assigns moral or psychological lessons to the trump cards.

When it is done

Tarot does not have fixed religious festivals or seasonal requirements. Gaming sessions occur whenever participants gather. Divination readings are scheduled at the convenience of the client. Some historical references link certain card motifs to astrological cycles, but the practice itself remains independent of a formal calendar.

Rites that involve Tarot

Questions people ask about Tarot

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle

• Tarot on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data