Hungarian Playing Cards: "Magyar Kartya"

Hungarian Playing Cards: "Magyar Kartya"

Collection: Everyday Connections

Object Category: Games
Object Type: Playing Cards

Country: Hungary
Continent: Europe
Geographic Region: Eastern Europe
Materials: Paper
width: 2.5 in; height: 4.25 in; depth: .6 in

These Hungarian playing cards are referred to as Magyar kartya. The deck has 32 cards, representing the four seasons. The suits are based on German card designs. The nut suit shows an acorn. There is a pumpkin suit that is sometimes confused with a bell. The green suit represents green grapes. The red suit represents hearts.

Playing cards were originally from China. The Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt adopted playing cards by at least the 1300s. The use of playing cards spread to the Iberian Peninsula by the late 1300s with the invasion of Moorish forces. From the Iberian Peninsula, playing cards were introduced into the rest of Europe.

Playing cards were introduced into Hungary in the 1800s. 
Source:
www.wopc.co.uk/hungary/seasons
https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/481513/history-hungariantell-cards