Loteria

Loteria is a Mexican Bingo game that uses lively images instead of the usual boring "B 29...B 29...C 32..." Sometimes riddles are used.

The images are evocative enough to be read. When this first occurred to me, I went online and found that this was not a new idea, people were already doing it. Which backs up my theory that people have always read Tarot and playing cards, even when they were only made for gaming!

There is a lot of variation between decks, you'll see some of the same images and some different ones. Here are some sample images from a deck by Artemio Rodriguez that I would love to get!


There is no book on reading the Loteria that I know of, but Artemio has also written this book of poems which might help a little - and even if it doesn't, it looks like a wonderful book. But it isn't a how-to book, and as mentioned, the cards can change from deck to deck. So we are flying by the seat of the pants here!

The set that I have is by Christina Sosa Noriega. It's very contemporary, which makes it very easy since it's not pictures of things you don't see anymore. Everything has some obvious meaning.

All the images are here. You can actually order these for $1.99 here. And the card stock is actually pretty sturdy! Why isn't everything else priced like this?

This deck is double-sided, with the titles in spanish on one side and english on the other. So if you're like Kaph and you need your cards to be face down on the table, you might want to put some contact paper on them. But for $1.99 a set, you should have money left over for that. Plus you get the larger sheets that can be cut into another deck if you don't want to play the game. Those have plain white backs. So it's actually two decks for $1.99.


Here are some of the meanings I've been using, feel free to add your own impressions. I hope this turns into a big monster thread!


The Rooster: Pride, strutting, a guy with lots of girlfriends, daybreak either literal or metaphorical.


The Devil: Look at this clown in his too-tight underwear, lighting a cigarette from his red hot pitchfork! See how he's changing from a man to a devil! The guy who was wonderful, until he moved in and transformed. People who change on you. For the worse. And they can be very, very hard to get rid of if you let them attach themselves.


The Lady: She's elegant, but also round and soft. Can be a tough professional but has a huge heart. Very hard worker, juggles job, family and friends.


Popsicle cart: A little relief. A little income, a little coolness on a blazing hot day. Very small business.


The Dandy: Pride, affectation, a lot like the Rooster but it's put-on. Surface possibly without substance.

More to come!

Cool, I actually like the older images better!

It looks like the old sets, but it's not. The artist was born in 1972! He really nailed the style of the 1930's sets, though.

Fennario you hooked another fish. Enabler!

$1.99 never hurt anybody.
I think even the Enquirer costs more than that these days. This is the last thing on earth that's not insanely priced! After that, well...

El Low-Rider ?!? I know what one is just can't think of a meaning off the top of my head.

wood wrote:El Low-Rider ?!? I know what one is just can't think of a meaning off the top of my head.

Well El Low-Rider could mean up & downs, dumpy road ahead, elegance but at the same time arrogance. LOL

Lowrider: Something mass-produced transformed into art.

Was thinking competition, each one trying to out do the other.

There's a strong preference for older model cars, too, so the period from the 50's to the 70's or thereabout.

The Mermaid: beauty, temptation, she sings and lures men to their doom!


Menudo: said to cure hangovers. New Year's Day. Building your strength back.

The next one's for Wood: The Margarita!

WhooHoo!

It looks goooooood!

La Araña = Betrayal, back stabbing, a greedy female

El Negro = A friend,a companion, an african male...