CARD GAMES IN MALTA (1530 up to present)

CARD GAMES PLAYED IN MALTA

From the 16^th up to the 21^st  century

Introducing playing cards in Malta

There are several unconfirmed anecdotes as to how card games were introduced into Europe. Some maintain that card games originated as far away as China, while others maintain that these were introduced by European travellers who ventured to Turkey and Egypt. Whichever the actual origin, the oldest documentation of card playing in Europe goes back to the last decades of the 14^th.

Stanley Fiorini refers to certain instances in the late 15^th century when games of chance were textually documented to have been played in Malta. One of these was called rullu or rucellu. However, it is not known whether this was a card game or otherwise. (S. Fiorini, 1993). In any case the name hints at a Sicilian origin. Certainly, Malta’s most frequent communication in medieval times was with Sicily. It could have well been the long standing affinity between the noble families of Mdina and those of Sicily that acquainted the Maltese with card games. One might also consider the never ending list of foreign rulers and their retinue residing in Malta as well as the military garrison quartered in Fort St Angelo, who might have shared their passion of card playing with the Maltese population. Another possible first contacts with European card players were the mariners and traders both foreigners and Maltese when trafficking goods from one port to another. 

The Order of the Knights of St John

During its long stay in Malta (1530 – 1798), the Order of St. John imposed on itself and on the Maltese people stringent rules on games that involved betting for financial or other prizes in kind. Both the Order as well as the Church authorities looked askance at such games because they believed that gambling would result in villainy and immorality, a perilous pastime that might well lead to vice, addiction and crime. This having been said, it is widely known that both knights and clergy were quite fond of whiling their time by playing such games of chance (G. Bonello, 2005).  

The Order of St. John imposed harsh punishments on those caught playing cards as well as other games where betting was involved. The penalties varied from fines, if the accused was one of a good financial and social standing, to lashing by a cord or whip, imprisonment, exile or even a good stretch rowing for life on the Order’s galleys. If a knight of the Order of St. John was ever caught transgressing the established limits he was immediately expelled from the Order and sent to prison (G. Bonello, 2005). For a reason yet to be explained, the law came down harder particularly on those who played the game of whist (W. Zammit, 2016).

However, in spite of such severe punishments that gamblers risked, card playing and other games of chance still remained a popular dare-do pastime. Even the ever present foreign slaves who were kept under chains in the local prisons and others who were allowed to run errands for their masters, were avid players of such games, not only because card games offered a moment of respite from their miserable slavery but also because they were attracted by the possibility to win some petty cash or other items in kind that they lacked (G. Wettinger, 2002). It is also known that even mariners on long voyages, chose gambling as their favourite pastime by which to indulge once they were not attending to their chores.  

Paradoxically, it was the Order of St. John itself that occasionally broke the rules. For instance, in 1673, in order to raise the funds necessary to continue with the construction of the Cottonera fortifications, an import duty was imposed on certain goods, amongst which there were playing cards – the other items taxed being tobacco, brandy, coffee and soap.  (A. Hoppen, 1993). Apparently, back then, these were all regarded as luxury items, and that included soap! Such a stint as carried out by the Order suggests that even if prohibited, the playing of cards was a popular pastime amongst the populace and this meant that cards were, prohibitions notwithstanding, were imported in substantial numbers. For this reason the Order found it expedient to tax this item to contribute to their coffers. Such an initiative also shows that to achieve its goal the Order of St John let the strict code of morals and the legal bindings go to the wind.

In the 1990’s the Book Restoration Laboratory of the National Library of Malta was handed a motley of 26 playing cards for them to restore. These cards which are exhibited in the St Lawrence Church Museum in Birgu, apparently belonged to 11 different decks. During the course of restoration, the then head of department Joseph Schirò discovered that the cards had been printed locally, possibly at the Order’s own press, some time close to the turn of the end of the 17^th or early years of the 18^th centuries. Curiously enough, this was done at a time when printing in Malta, was not permitted due to a prolonged litigation between the Order of St John, the Bishop and the Inquisition over the rights of censorship on locally printed matter. Giovanni Bonello, in his article Made-in-Malta Playing Cards (1684-1750) reveals in spite of the exisiting bans on the playing of games of chance, printing of cards was permitted, and there were even those who sold and exported such cards (G. Bonello, Histories of Malta, Ventures and Adventures, 1996).

Eventually, in 1747, Grand Master Manoel Pinto de Fonseca gave the go ahead for the printing press to operate but in no way was the printing of cards allowed. Indeed the same Grand Master issued edicts from time to time warning against gambling. These edicts were publicised in 1754, 1768 and 1772 and 1775 (C. Testa, 1989). However, citing once again Schirò’s article, during the reign of Grand Master de Rohan, permission was granted in 1780 and 1781 for a limited amount of cards to be printed at the Order’s press. It seems therefore that the strict imposition of such games was relaxed, whether temporarily or else permanently it is not known.  

Various historians have come across documentation of numerous card games that became popular under the Order’s rule. Their Italian name hints to their origin in the neighbouring peninsula. Schirò mentions the game known as trappola. Carmel Cassar, refers to another game, known as bassetta (1993). Giovanni Bonello, in his article, ‘Gambling in Malta under the Order’, mentions a number of card games, all having Italian appellations. Amongst them the zecchinetta, cartella, quaranta, scopetta, maniglia, paria (or pariglia?), trisette, and sentuta (G. Bonello, 2005). The name of other card games hint at an earlier place of origin, such as France and Spain where the games of brisque (briscola), bezique and manille.

Card playing in the 19^th  century

When in 1800, the British took possession of the Maltese islands, cards games remained popular, this time however, without any restrictions whatsoever. William Domeier, an Englishman who had spent some time in Malta during the first decade of the 19^th century, informs us that cards were a ‘[…] common amusement in society … English and Maltese ladies and gentlemen meet after public dinner at the governor’s own (the Governor’s Palace in Valletta) and remain together till after ten. A great number amuse themselves with cards others with conversing […]’. Domeier also  states that ‘[…] some married officers as well as some gentlemen employed in the civil branch of government and wealthy merchants, keep good houses, and vie with each other in giving dinners, balls and card parties especially in winter and in carnival … whist, cassino and loo are the usual games of which the first in the governor’s house, is never played higher than one shilling the fish; which good rule is, imitated in all other societies […]’, (W. Domeier, 1810). A shilling, back then, was a lot of money which only affluent persons could afford to carry around in their purse.

While the British and the local upper crust enjoyed playing such games, the Maltese populace most probably kept to their old habits. Later on, when in the mid-19th century the festa band clubs started sprouting all over Malta and Gozo, card playing must have become a very prominent way of socialising around a table while drinking coffee or wine. We are informed that one of the traditional games that was played in the 19^th century, was the zekketta, (known in Italian as either Zecchinetta or Lanzichenecco, (M. Galea, 1997). This game has already been mentioned by Giovanni Bonello above. There was also the Bella Donna and the Faragħun (Eng. pharoah) once very popular in France.  

The Maltese names of the card suits

As from the late 15^th century onwards, cards were being designated with numbers and figures, to define their values in points. The earliest of such decks were produced in France. The most common deck was made up of 52 cards, and similar to today, contained suits in red or black. Eventually the standard deck of cards came to consist of 13 red cards and 13 black, each suit bearing numbers 2 to 10 as well as the spade, diamond, clubs and hearts icons defining their value. Other cards bore the symbolic figures of a king, a queens, a knave or jack and an ace. This template was adhered to down the centuries, while undergoing numerous variations. When playing card games the Maltese often adopted the Italian name to a Maltese one often related to the original Italian meaning. These names and their Italian and English counterparts are given below.

♥ KOPPI  / KORI / QLUB  (the first name means cups; the second and third meaning hearts). From the Italian, coppe and cuori.

♦ DENARI / MQARET –  (from the Italian denari, meaning coins), the second word means lozenge) – English diamonds.

♠ SPADI / SPATI / PIKKI / PIKI (spadi means swords, and pikki means lances. Ital. picche; Eng. spades.   

♣ MAZZI / FJURI  – (from the Italian meaning bunches of flowers).  In Italian they are known as bastoni. Eng. clubs.

The value of the other cards in the deck are represented by a courtly figure. In Maltese, these are called fgajjar (plural of figura). These are the sultan, (king), donna (queen) and kavall or prinċep (Eng. jack – formerly known as knave). These three cards normally are valued at 13, 12 and 11 points respectively. Then there is the ass (Eng. ace card) that may also have its value changed to suit the purpose and regulations of the game. This card may sometimes be worth one point but in other games would be worth 11 points. The same goes for the joker a card that became popular in the 19^th century in America when playing the game known as euchre and later in poker. Both the ace and the joker are considered in English as ‘wild cards’ as they change their role and value according to the game being played.  

Card games played in Malta in more recent times

Up to a few generations ago card playing was quite a popular pastime, played by all strata of society, whether at home or else in the traditional wine and tea shops. When vehicular traffic was not an issue, during the summer months one could spot a bunch of neighbours crowding around a makeshift table in front of their residence playing such games as the trentun. Certainly, in more recent times, due to the islands’ exposure to the outside world and the opening of local casinos, most traditional games have been dropped and replaced by internationally known games such as poker, rummy, canasta and bridge. Enthusiasts of this latter game have set up an association that organizes tournaments. Those individuals who do not find the time to socialise of course recur to solitaire. 

The traditional games still extant, albeit played only amongst an ever shrinking circle of enthusiasts at social clubs or amongst friends are:  ass idur (Eng. chase the ace), bella donna and bella donna ħalliela, (literally meaning: the pretty lady thief) beżik (French: bezirque), bixkla or brixkla,  (pronounced bishklah or brishklah), manilja, (Fr. manille), trentun (Italian for ‘thirty one’), and trisett. Other games that are hardly mentioned anymore are kargu (from Italian carico) and ċamar (Italian chiamare).

Alexey Lobashev, a card playing enthusiast who has studied card games on an international level, claims that in Malta there are other popular card games, namely, Twenty four (a game invented in China in the sixties of the 20^th century), tliet karti, (Eng. three cards), domino, also known as Seven Up (which is a version of Fan Tan), and kaxxa which is a version of baccarat. Lobashev also says that in Malta the decks are usually composed of 52 cards and that all the games are played in an anti-clockwise sequence.

In today’s world and in Malta card games on internet are the rage.

Martin Morana

22, February  2024

http://www.kliemustorja.com

Thanks to Colin Formosa, Edward Bondin and Joseph Gouder for their contribution to make the article more informative.

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