Overview

Decks of cards were originally not just for game playing; they were also for teaching and memorizing important information. Old newspapers state they were used for teaching children also. Most interesting though is that the deck of cards does agree with our Father in Heaven’s solar calendar that was documented in the Book of Enoch, Book of Jubilees and the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The European countries did use different suits. The card deck above was produced in 1990 after Germany was reunited and it reflects an Austrian hybrid deck used to help players learn the suits. The cards also differed in other ways; such as the King face cards changed sometimes to show local the countries historical kings. Some countries have Queen Cards and other showed Knight Cards. Here in America we use the French playing card version. All cards decks with 52 cards do reflect our Father in Heaven’s calendar.

The origin of playing cards was different depending on which old newspaper I read. Wikipedia says that playing cards arrived in Europe from Mamluk Egypt around 1370 and were already reported in France in 1377. The French suit insignia was derived from German suits around 1480. I did find one newspaper that agrees with Wikipedia that the cards were used in Egypt and that article is very interesting (shown below).

1908 news –Cards played in Egypt during Joseph’s reign.
Column 1 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn93053726/1908-11-07/ed-1/seq-9.pdf

The deck of cards was in use before Pope Gregory implemented the calendar changes in 1582. These calendar changes would definitely helped use to forget the meaning behind the playing cards.

52 Weeks per Year & 52 Cards

A deck of cards has 52 cards and there are 52 weeks in each year. Therefore, there is a card for every week of the calendar year.

French-English Cards

Russian Playing Cards

4 Seasons per Year & 4 Suits

There are 4 seasons and 4 suits of cards in each deck. Each season has 13 weeks with 91 day each. Each suit has 13 cards that total 91. The red suits represent the days after the spring equinox when the days are getting longer. The black suits represent the days after the fall equinox when the days are getting shorter. This proves a solar calendar also since lunar calendars are not aligned to the equinoxes and solstices.

Kings are from a 1900 Anglo-American Deck of Cards

German/Austrian Hybrid Deck

12 Months per Year & 12 Court Cards

There are 12 months in a year and 12 Court cards (cards with faces).

364 Days in a Year & Cards Total 364

According to the Book of Enoch, Jubilees and the Dead Sea Scrolls there are 364 days in a year and if you add the values of each card together you get a sum of 364. Our ancestor’s ancient calendar was based on a sidereal day which is a 364 day year. Today’s calendar is based on a topical year of 365.25 days.

The Joker

The Joker was not part of the original deck of cards. It was introduced in America during the civil war and was created as a trump card to play the game Euchre. Other countries later added Joker cards.

Joker Cards

Suits

Based on reading old newspapers and Wikipeda, these are the suits which represent seasons and classes of men.

Note: I added pictures of the Greek cards suits based on dictionary descriptions. Wikipedia does not reflect Greek suits.

1920 news –‘How Hearts & Spades Began’
column 4 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87057262/1920-09-09/ed-1/seq-8.pdf

Hearts, Cups & Roses – Spring

The French and Germans named this suit ‘hearts’. The Italians and Spanish called this suit ‘cups’. The Swiss-Germans called it ‘roses’. The Greeks called this suit κούπα (koúpa) which means a cup (drinking vessel) or liquid measure.

The suit of hearts was assigned to the clergy and was the symbol for spring. In this quarter is when Passover and the Last Super occur. The heart might be the symbol for blood.

“And the cup in like manner after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, even that which is poured out for you.” ASV Luke 22:20

Diamonds, Tiles, Coins & Bells - Summer

The Greek suit is καρό (karó) which means diamond pattern or checkered or a cart pulled by horses.

The bells used in the Swiss and Germen suits are called either Jingle Bells or Sleigh Bells and they were fastened to horse harnesses that pulled carriages or sleighs.

Bells are also associated with clocks, indicating the hour by the striking of bells. The word clock comes from the Latin word cloca which means bell. Bells in clock towers or bell towers can be heard over long distances, which was especially important in the time when clocks were too expensive for widespread use. I’m sure the Church bells rang when the Church service was preparing to start.

This suit is associated with citizens, merchants and tradespeople in the summer months; therefore they associated it with coins, horses going to town, and trading goods.

Spades, Pike, Sword, Shield, & Leaves – Autumn or Fall

A spade in Greek μπαστούνι (bastoúni) a cane, walking stick. spade, as used in "queen of spades", not the gardening implement. From Italian bastone which is a stick, cane, staff, or pole. A pike is from Middle English pyke, pyk, pik, pike (“pike; sharp point, iron tip of a staff or spear, pointed toe of an item of footwear; sharp tool; mountain, peak”). Old French pic meaning a sharp point or spike.

Spades was associated with nobility or military. It occurs in the fall during the time of the final harvest and the leaves falling when they held the Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement and went to the Feast of Tabernacles. This suit may represent this verse in prophecy.

“And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp two edged sword; that with it he may strike the nations. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God the Almighty.” DR Rev 19:15

Clubs, Clovers & Acorns - Winter

A Club is an association of members joining together for some common purpose or a weapon.

The Greek word is σπαθί (spathí) meaning club, sword or weapon.

This suit was associated with peasants and farmers. The old newspaper above stated is was originally a clover which is also known as a shamrock. Saint Patrick’s Day occurs during the winter season. Saint Patrick’s Day is the celebration of removing the snakes from Ireland. Winter is also when the Feast of Purim was held when they purified the land with a battle. Therefore, this might represent past battles with weapons. This also might represent the trinity since Saint Patrick taught the trinity with a shamrock.

Paris Portrait Deck

Reflected below are the court cards that are also known as face cards. This deck is called the Paris Portrait Deck and old newspaper do reflect that these cards represent the people shown below, with the exception of Rachel since one old newspaper stated it was Esther of the bible.

I do wonder if the king originally stood for Abraham since he was promised kings from his loins and the queen represents Sarah since her name means queen. The Jacks could be Jacob Israel just like the Union Jack represents him.

The queen sentiments came from a newspaper article below. Another newspaper stated they represented prudence, laws, liberty, and equity.

Note: The eighth month is named after Athena in the Septuagint version of the bible. The eighth month did occur during the autumn season.

Paris Portrait Deck - 1740-1751

Conclusion

The deck of cards can be used to teach the calendar, seasons, bible stories, about past royalty, and about heroine events of the past. These would be important teaching lessons for our children. The deck of cards also proves our past calendar of 364 days as stated in Enoch, Jubilees and the Dead Sea Scrolls.