Between fun and superstitions, the most beautiful games in the history of Naples

always Napoli It is known as a city with a thousand facets, characterized by a broad and articulated culture in which the legacies of numerous peoples find space. Even when you talk about hobbies, The city of Naples has a lot to tell: from cards to bingo, many games have found fertile ground here among both the working classes and high society. Let's explore them together in this article.

Neapolitan cards, a tradition now widespread throughout Italy

Although in many areas of Italy they have been developed Playing cards related to the territoryLike those from Sardinia, Viterbo, Piedmont, or Trieste, Neapolitan cards represent one of the most well-known traditional games in Italy. Suitable for a wide range of pastimes, whether played alone or with friends, from the classic scopa to tressette, briscola, and sette e mezzo, Neapolitan cards have become the companions of many adventures, not only in Naples. Whether at the bar or during family Christmas parties, it's practically impossible not to get caught up in the passion that characterizes these games, sparking intense and fun tournaments among friends and family.

Just like the French cards, the Neapolitan cards also have four "seeds", which in this case however are cups, sticks, swords and coins, also found in decks from other central and southern regions. For each suit, there are ten cards, seven numbered and the last three identified by a figure (knave, knight, and king), for a total of 40 cards. Looking closely at the Neapolitan cards, it's interesting to note some peculiarities, such as the fact that the figures are portrayed in XNUMXth-century clothing, the era in which they were created, and that the knave has feminine features, so much so that it's slangly called "la donna."
What does the mask in the center of the three of wands represent? It's the "mammone cat," a popular figure used as a scarecrow.

Tombola, a great classic of Neapolitan games

Among the games most loved by Neapolitans It is impossible not to mention Tombola, a true family institution that soon became the heritage of the entire Bourbon Kingdom. Ninety numbers enclosed in a wicker "panariello" and a series of cards on which to mark the ones drawn, in pursuit of ever-higher prizes, from ambo to cinquina and tombola: these are the simple rules of a game that has become inextricably linked to the superstition of an entire population. Thus, as per the Smorfia tradition, each number is associated with a specific meaning, and many of these conceal a positive or negative relationship between people and numbers. Just think of the infamous 90, linked to "misfortune," or 17, conversely connected to "luck," which here is identified with the "bottom." These numbers, in other cultures, can also have completely opposite meanings. It is not uncommon to encounter interpretations of numbers. different from country to country, as happens for example with the number 8, considered lucky by the Chinese but unlucky by the Indians.

Curious is the episode that leads to the birth of the game of Tombola, when king Charles III of Bourbon He found himself in conflict with the Dominican friar Gregorio Maria Rocco, who was fighting against the immoral nature of the Lotto game. The dispute ended with a sort of agreement, which led to the drawing being banned only during the Christmas season, a time dedicated to prayer and devotion. The Neapolitans, however, remaining true to their creativity, devised their own system to maintain the fun of the drawing and thus created Tombola, a new family game to be played during the Christmas holidays.

Lotto, a periodic appointment with numbers

As seen, Tombola is nothing more than an evolution of Lotto game, a true classic of Neapolitan and Italian tradition. Commonly associated with the city of Naples, Lotto originated in Genoa from the practice of illegally betting on which five people would be elected members of the Serenissimi Collegi of the Genoese Republic from a pool of 5 candidates, later reduced to 120. Opposed by the Church and the authorities, the game was so successful that it was eventually legalized to increase state profits.

Brought to Naples towards the end of the 600th century, the Lotto was managed here by private individuals until 1735 and legally recognized by the Bourbons, who even defended it when the aforementioned friar Gregorio Maria Rocco tried to fight it because it was considered immoral. Now part of the DNA of a population that has always been passionate about gambling in all its forms, Lotto is today considered a real symbol of the city of Naples, of which it has become an "adoptive" heritage.

Sinco, a modern Tombola that everyone will love

From a sort of mix between the basic characteristics of Tombola, American Bingo and games based on Neapolitan cards, the Sinco, a game that obviously can't be considered a centuries-old tradition of the city of Naples, but which in just a few years has become a popular game among people of all ages, particularly during the Christmas holidays and large family gatherings. Sinco, which takes its name simply from "Cinco," meaning five in Spanish, was the brainchild of a Neapolitan merchant. Emilio Salvatore, who thought of replacing the numbers used in Tombola and Bingo with Neapolitan cards.

The game is essentially made up of a board and 10 cards, each of which contains 25 Neapolitan cards. The dealer calls the cards that are drawn one by one and each player marks the ones on their card. Every time a player completes one of the combinations drawn on the card (i.e. Centro, Poker, Angolo, Sinco and Rombo) they win the corresponding prize, just like with ambo, terno, quaterna, cinquina and tombola.

Pallamaglio and strummolo, the typical games of the Neapolitan alleys

Neapolitans have always had a deep connection with their city, experiencing every corner and every street more than they do with their own home. It is precisely in this dynamic, joyful, and human-centered context that two street games, pallamaglio and strummolo, emerged.

Il pall-mall can be considered a predecessor of sports such as golf and polo: in this game, using a mallet with a hammer-shaped head, one had to hit a wooden ball (or in any case a hard material ball) trying to make it follow a pre-established path. strummolo, on the other hand, can be compared to the classic spinning top, and can be described as a wooden cone that is thrown by pulling a "string" to make it spin as fast as possible on its iron tip. A lifelong companion of countless people in past centuries, the strummolo is a "mysterious" object for many young people today, who unfortunately are unaware of its history and characteristics.

For a cheerful and convivial people like the Neapolitans, theart of the game It is therefore something inherent in the very nature of individuals, a way to ward off fears and difficulties and to share moments of fun and joy with others, both within the family and beyond. Despite the adversities that life can bring, Naples and the Neapolitans always find room for a smile, and this ancient love of play in all its forms is only clear proof of this.