Why are the suits in playing cards so called?
Question
In a pack of cards, why are the suits called diamonds, hearts, clubs and spades? Why not something else?Tony, Chislehurst
Answer
** Definitive **Name: Israel, Peckham
Qualification: Tarot Card Reader
Answer: They originate from the Renaissance Days during the Spanish Inquisition, where they came from the Tarot cards, which have four suits, known as pentacles, cups, swords and wands. The pentacles became diamonds, the cups became heart, the swords became spades and the wands became clubs. They changed it to avoid the association with heresy that tarot cards had.