The holidays are over, and it’s time for the new year. What are you supposed to do? You can relax and play a few rounds or get your family together for Texas Hold’em or Slap Jack or War. National Card Playing Day offers a chance for everyone to relax from the season’s kerfluffle by playing a few cards.

The first introduction of playing cards to the world was in China. They then spread to India, Persia and eventually every corner of the globe. Okay, that corner thing didn’t make sense unless you are talking about rectangular playing cards, which, thankfully, we are! They actually came in a whole pack.

The arrival of cards in Europe was around the 14th century. They were well-known in major cities like Paris and Florence. However, the cards weren’t as familiar as the decks we love today. The cards were still in development, and artisan cardmakers still struggle to find the best deck layouts and designs. Their creations were centered around the original playing cups, sticks, and coins – the gaming apparatus of choice for a large portion of the early middle-ages.

Card playing developed as a discipline. It became something we all knew by the middle of the 15th century. Between 1418-1450, cardmakers in Augsburg, Nuremberg and Ulm started printing decks that allowed people to buy cards.

The popularity of cards increased as more people used the printing press. Their designs also became more complicated. They started printing cards with unusual symbols such as hearts, acorns and bells. Card makers in France introduced tiles, pikes and clovers. They reached England and the traditional suits of clubs, spaders, and pikes were already in existence.

The founding of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards in 1628 was a major turning point for playing cards. This organization was established by a royal Charter and represented all those involved in the industry. It was so important that the king was even involved!

Card markers have continued to improve their craft and make it more user-friendly. They began to round the edges of cards and add printed edges, which indicated the type and value of the card. The fan was used to view the current position of cards by players who could hold it in one hand.

Playing cards eventually became a popular cultural staple. Columbia University estimates that there are over 6,000 types of historical decks with provenance from more than fifty countries. But there may be many more. Many of these decks use entirely different deck systems than the basic hearts, clubs, diamonds, clubs, and spades.

The winter holidays have been a time when playing cards has been a popular choice. Before television and electricity, there was no other entertainment option.

You can play cards, that’s right! There are many games available all over the globe, and hundreds of them from every culture. Some games are specific to one region or even a subset of it (such as Baccarat), while others can be found all over the globe and easily recognized (like poker). Some games still use playing boards to keep track of points such as cribbage.

National Card Playing Day gives you an excuse to enjoy this old-fashioned form of entertainment.

Participating in the above-mentioned pastime is the best way to celebrate National Card Playing Day. If you really want to get out of National Card Playing Day and have the opportunity to experience it, you might consider learning a new game or a variation on a card game.

There are many games you can learn. If the game you’re familiar with is losing its appeal, you might be able to learn another. A new deck of cards can make playing a game more enjoyable. There are endless variations in style and themes.

Try to buy a traditional deck when you’re looking for a new deck. These are not common, but they do exist.

You could also choose a different card game to celebrate the occasion than the traditional one. There are many options. Magic: The Gathering introduces you to a new world of cards that allows for more customization and strategy. You can use spells or monsters to defeat your enemies.