Americans Celebrate National Card Playing Day Wednesday

Card Playing Day has arrived and will see family and friends joining at the table to play Wednesday.

The holiday is observed every year on Dec. 28, just days after Christmas when the busy holiday bustle is drawing to a close. The calm, quiet, slow-paced card games not only provide adult guests with fun and entertainment, but children who are bored with their new toys also participate in the event.

Countless card games exist, including Bridge, Poker, Rummy, and Solitaire, but there is a game appropriate for any age. Some people take card games very seriously and even consider it business when money is wagered, but playing cards can be a relaxing and educational activity for anyone.

Little information is known about the history of Card Playing Day or its creators, but the age-old tradition of playing with cards has been around since they were invented in Ancient China during the 9th century.

The Smithsonian Institution Libraries posted a special message about Card Playing Day on its website. To celebrate the event, the world’s largest museum complex is featuring a trade catalog about playing cards. The catalog is from the United States Playing Card Co. and was first published in 1898, entitled “Fashion Series Playing Cards in Miniature.”

Descriptions and colorful illustrations of unique and classic Whist playing cards are featured in the catalog. More catalogs from the United States Playing Card Co. are stored in the Trade Literature Collection at the National Museum of American History Library.

Many Twitter users have acknowledged the holiday Wednesday.

Public speaker Tim Moore wrote, “Today is National Card Playing Day! This is the perfect day to spend an hour or so playing cards with family and friends.”

Twitter user Lucy posted about National Card Playing Day, suggesting: “If Go Fish is not up your alley, Texas Hold’em probably counts.”

“Happy Natl Card Playing Day,” wrote Twitter user Stephanie. “Wishing you a great day with pocket aces.”