The Christmas holidays are the perfect opportunity to rediscover family traditions and pastimes that have spanned generations. Among these, card games are certainly one of the most loved moments, both during family dinners and during long winter evenings spent with friends. From scopa to burraco, through tressette and briscola, card games are an integral part of Christmas celebrations. With the advent of technology, many enthusiasts are also turning to online card games, which allow you to challenge each other remotely, keeping the fun alive even when family reunions aren't possible.
Card games have always been a meeting point during the Christmas holidays, an opportunity to share moments of conviviality and, sometimes, even healthy competition. Each region of Italy has its own typical games, but some have become true classics, loved throughout the country, even during the holidays.
One of the most popular card games during Christmas is undoubtedly scopa. It is played with a deck of Italian cards and its simplicity makes it perfect for all ages. Scopa is a game of accumulation of points that takes place between two or more players, each with the aim of "taking" the opponents' cards and accumulating as many points as possible. During the Christmas holidays, it is not uncommon to see families gather around a table, play scopa and have fun with laughter and little tricks.
Another game that is gaining popularity during the Christmas period is burraco, which is played with two decks of French cards. Unlike other games, burraco requires a combination of strategy and skill, which makes it particularly addictive. Often, during the Christmas holidays, burraco games are real marathons, where friends and family compete for hours. This game is perfect for a large group, but also for couples, who compete in teams.
In burraco, the goal is to form combinations of cards (runs or three of a kind) and, through the management of the cards, accumulate points. The game takes place in multiple hands, and victory depends on the ability to manage the cards and make the most of opportunities. Burraco has become an ideal card game for Christmas also thanks to its ability to involve more people and create a challenging atmosphere that makes the holidays even more exciting.
In addition to scopa and burraco, there are other traditional games that cannot be missed on Christmas evenings and, in fact, have become fully-fledged games among the traditions of this festivity: Tressette and Briscola. Tressette is a card game typical of southern Italy, particularly popular in Naples and Sicily. Its gameplay structure is similar to scopa, but with the addition of some more complex rules that make the game more interesting and dynamic. Overall, tressette is a game that requires a lot of attention and calculation, and games can last for long periods, making it perfect for long winter evenings.
Briscola, on the other hand, is one of the most loved card games in all of Italy. This game is also played with a deck of Italian cards and consists of trying to accumulate the highest possible score, through winning hands. Briscola is perfect for families and groups of friends, and there is no Christmas without a game of briscola with the family.
With the evolution of technology, the world of card games has also adapted. Online card games allow you to bring the tradition of Christmas games into digital contexts, where you can challenge friends and family remotely. There are many platforms that offer digital versions of traditional games such as scopa, burraco and briscola, allowing those who are far away to join the party. This mode has gained a lot of popularity, especially in the last holidays, when family gatherings were curtailed due to the pandemic. Not only for those who cannot be physically present, but also for those who want to play multiple games at the same time or for those looking for a challenge with other enthusiasts from all over the world.
Whether you play around the table with a traditional deck of cards or online on one of the ADM-certified online platforms, the important thing is to have fun together, keeping the magic of the holidays alive.
Comments (1)
Very interesting article, but I don't understand why the Neapolitan card game that is very popular during the holidays is not mentioned. I also often play scopa and burraco, but sometimes I prefer tressette.