As an avid card game enthusiast, I‘ve spent many late nights gathered around a table with friends playing hands of poker, euchre and spades. The familiar four suits – hearts, diamonds, clubs and spades – are ingrained in my mind. But it struck me recently that I didn‘t know why that last suit was named "spades". The shovel-like tool seemed an odd namesake for the black, upside down heart symbols.
This sent me down a fascinating rabbit hole researching the history and symbolism of the spade card suit. While spades may resemble digging tools, their name actually originates from the Italian suit of swords. Over the centuries, they‘ve continued to represent weapons, war, and even death.
Join me in exploring the evolution of the enigmatic spade – from ancient Italian decks to modern playing cards. Understanding the spade‘s symbolic roots gives insight into card game strategy, interpretations of literature, and even tattoo art.
The Origins of Playing Card Suits
Modern playing cards evolved over centuries, beginning in Ancient China before spreading to Persia and then Egypt. But the roots of the 4 French suits we recognize today emerged in Northern Italy in the late 1300s.
Italian suited decks contained sticks, cups, swords, and coins – representing the four social classes. As playing cards migrated into Spain and France, the suits transformed into:
- Batons = Clubs ♣
- Cups = Hearts ♥
- Swords = Spades ♠
- Coins = Diamonds ♦
So originally, the suit of swords held the place later occupied by spades. The Italian connection explains why the French name for spades is "pique" – derived from "spada" (sword).
Meanings Behind the Suits
The four French suit symbols each carry symbolic meaning:
| Suit | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hearts ♥ | The Church, Emotion, Summer |
| Diamonds ♦ | Merchants, Wealth, Spring |
| Clubs ♣ | Peasants, Agriculture, Winter |
| Spades ♠ | Nobility, Military, Fall |
So spades inherited the association with the military and upper class from the earlier Italian suit of swords. The spade shape itself would come to represent a leaf from the "cosmic tree", spear heads, and a fatalistic upside-down heart.
Image credit: Some rights reserved by traciennialeigh
Spades as Swords and Weapons
Throughout history, the spade suit has kept its weaponry associations:
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In playing card tarot, spades correspond to the suit of swords – symbolizing intellect, conflict, death. The ace of swords represents an executioner‘s axe.
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US soldiers in WWII painted spade symbols on helmet for good luck – this began with the Army‘s 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
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Grim reaper depictions sometimes show Death carrying a spade symbolizing his role gathering souls.
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The idiom "black as the ace of spades" refers to something sinister and deathly.
The Grim Reaper wielding a spade
Ranks and Odds of Spades
Within a deck, each suit contains 13 cards ranking from:
- Ace (high) – The ace of spades holds special symbolism (see next section).
- King, Queen, Jack (face cards)
- 10, 9, 8 … 2 (pip cards)
Out of 52 total cards, there are 13 spades. This means the odds of being dealt a spade card from a shuffled deck are 1 in 4 (25%).
The chances of getting any specific spade card (e.g. the king of spades) are much lower at approximately 1 in 52 (1.9%).
Spade cards ordered by rank
The Symbolic Ace of Spades
The ace of spades holds special notoriety as the "death card":
- Considered an ill omen in fortune telling
- Design traditionally more ornate than other aces
- Expression "black as the ace of spades" refers to darkness/death
- Assassins historically left it on slain victims
- Rock singer Lemmy from Motörhead collected ace of spades memorabilia
But, the ace also symbolizes good luck due to its high rank. American soldiers in Vietnam painted the ace of spades on helmets and vehicles to frighten the Viet Cong.
The iconic ace of spades
Spade Symbolism in Tattoos
The spade symbol is a popular tattoo design. Some meanings include:
- Good luck – from its high value in cards and gambling
- Darkness – black color and grim reaper associations
- Death – correlations with the ace of spades as the death card
- Rebirth – upside down heart suggesting renewal
- Summer – from the leaf correlation
Both men and women get spade tattoos, but they seem particularly prevalent with bikers. Poker players also ink spade designs to show their love of cards.
Examples of spade tattoo designs
Winning Tricks With Spades
Now you know why the suit is named “spades” – but how do you use this suit strategically in card games?
Some key tips:
- Lead with high spades – K, Q, J spades are powerful starters that can take early tricks
- Save aces – Hold back the ace of spades to take the trick later
- Draw trumps – For spades contract games, play spades to pull opponents‘ cards
- Avoid being "void" – Holding no spades makes you vulnerable in spades contracts
Of course every game has its own strategy around leveraging those risky, lucky spades at the right moment. But regardless of your style, give this historic suit its due respect!
Final Thoughts
For a suit symbolized by a shovel-shaped tool, the spade has a surprisingly rich history and symbolism. Tracing its origins to the Italian suit of swords explains how spades inherited regal, martial and fatalistic themes.
The spade shape itself borrows from medieval weaponry, nature, and occult beliefs. This legacy lives on in the spade‘s strategic use in cards, its integration into military lore, and its enduring popularity in tattoo art.
So next time you draw a hand, think twice before casually tossing out that harmless looking spade! Understand its long symbolic lineage, and the luck or Death its dark shape may portend.
