History of Tarot Cards

It is believed that the word 'tarot' has been derivedbecame quite popular in the northern region of Italy
from the word 'turuq'. This is an Arabic word andand eastern parts of France. As time went by, the
means four ways. Tarot cards include 21 trump cardssymbols and pictures on the cards changed; and soon
and also a fool card and an extra card in every suittarot cards became popular also in Austria, Germany
as well as normal playing cards. They were first usedand Sicily.
some time in the 14th century.After many centuries people who believed in
Feliciano Busi described these cards as havingdivination, started using them to make predictions.
originated from Saraciana, which is another name forThis fascinated the French and the English. Many civil
Arabia. The Arabs used them for a card gamegovernments banned playing normal cards, but not
known as Tarocchi. Some of the theories say thatthe tarot. However, it was only in the year 1781 that
the tarot cards originated between 1410 and 1430 inthe meaning of different cards was interpreted. This
Bologna, Milan or Ferrara which are situated ininterpretation was done by a Protestant pastor
northern parts of Italy. And, the trump cards were anamed Antoine Court.
late addition to the cards.Gypsies in Europe were the first to use tarot cards
These new cards which were added were calledto predict the future. And, between the 18th century
triumph cards. The people used the cards to play aand 19th century, occultists and mystics had started
game that was very akin to Bridge. Soon, the gameusing the art to predict and foretell people's future.