Lotería (Spanish word meaning "lottery") is a traditional Mexican board game of chance, similar to bingo, but played with a deck of cards instead of numbered balls. Each card has an image of an object, its name, and a number, although the number is usually ignored. Each player has at least one , a board with a randomly created 4 × 4 grid selected from the card images. Players choose a tabla ("board") to play with, from a variety of previously created , each with a different selection of images.
The traditional Lotería card deck is composed of 54 different cards, each with a different picture. To start the game, the caller (cantor, "singer") shuffles the deck. One by one, the caller picks a card from the deck and announces it to the players by its name, sometimes using a verse before reading the card name. Each player locates the matching pictogram of the card just announced on their board and marks it off with a chip or other kind of marker. In Mexico, it is traditional to use pennies, crown corks or pinto beans as markers. The winner is the first player that shouts "" after marking all the images in their tabla, or completing a pattern on it, similar to bingo: row, column, diagonal, four corners, or unique to this game, four in a square ().
History
The game of can be traced far back in history. The game originated in Italy in the 15th century and was brought to New Spain, in 1769. In the beginning, was a hobby of the upper classes, but eventually it became a tradition at Mexican fairs.
Don Clemente Jacques began publishing the game in 1887.Villegas, Teresa. "History of La Lotería" , www.teresavillegas.com His version of the game was distributed to Mexican soldiers along with their rations and supplies.
The images Don Clemente used in his card designs have become iconic in Mexican culture, as well as gaining popularity in the U.S. and some European countries. Don Clemente's cards also had a part in representing and normalizing different aspects of Mexico's national identity during the 19th century. This can be seen with the card of ("the soldier"), which was used as a symbol to reference war as a part of Mexico's national identity during that time. Many of the pictures used in Don Clemente's resemble the Major Arcana of Tarot cards used for divination (which, in turn, are based on cards used in Tarot card games). Other popular sets are , and .
Alternative versions is a variant version of the traditional Mexican , where the basic rules apply. For this version, before the game begins, players agree on how many are to be completed in a row, column or diagonal pattern. A is a group of images in a square. The square may contain 2 x 2 (4) or 3 x 3 (9) images for a traditional .
During the 1930s, the Roman Catholic church devised its own version of , most likely because of the connections between Don Clemente's popular images and Tarot cards; divination and fortune-telling are prohibited by Catholic doctrine.Catechism of the Catholic Church, "Divination and Magic," ¶ 2115-2116. Retrieved 21 April 2021. This alternative deck consisted of Catholic images instead of the traditional images used in the original game, likely allowing devout Catholics a way to enjoy the game without those "sinful" connotations and giving the Church a way to teach its beliefs by way of the .
With the rise of online gaming and app-based gaming, electronic versions such as the Loteria online game allow computer users to play an online version of the .
Cards and associated verses
The following is a list of the original 54 cards, traditionally and broadly recognized in Mexico. Along with each card name and number are the verses sometimes used to tell the players which card was drawn. However, there are several less traditional sets of cards, depicting different objects or animals.
No. Name English Verse Translation1the roosterThe one that sang for St. Peter will never sing for him again.2the little DevilBehave yourself buddy, or the little red one will take you away.3the ladyImproving her gait, all along the main street.4the dandySir Ferruco in the poplar grove, wanted to toss away his cane.5the umbrellaFor the sun and for the rain.6the mermaidDon't be swayed by the songs of the siren. (In Spanish, sirens and mermaids and their song are synonymous.)7the ladderAscend me step by step, don't try and skip.8the bottleThe tool of the drunk.9the barrelSo much did the bricklayer drink, he ended up like a barrel.10the treeHe who nears a good tree, is blanketed by good shade.11the melonGive it to me or take it from me.12the brave manWhy do you run, coward? Having such a good blade too.13the little bonnetPut the bonnet on the baby, lest he catch a cold.14DeathDeath, thin and lanky.15the pear He who waits despairs. (A pun: "waits" and "is a pear" are homophones in Mexican Spanish.)16the flagGreen, white, and red, the flag of the soldier.17the mandolinThere playing his lute, is Simon the mariachi.18the celloGrowing it reached the heavens, and since it wasn't a violin, it had to be a cello.19the heronAt the other side of the river I have my sand bank, where sits my darling short one, with the beak of a great blue heron.20the birdYou have me hopping here and there, like a bird on a branch.21the handThe hand of a criminal.22the bootA boot the same as the other.23the moonThe street lamp of lovers.24the parrotParrot, parrot, stick out your claw and begin to chat with me.25the drunkardOh what an annoying drunk, I can't stand him any more.26the little black manThe one who ate the sugar.27the heartDo not miss me, sweetheart, I'll be back by bus.28the watermelonThe swollen belly that Juan had, was from eating too much watermelon.29the drumDon't you wrinkle, dear old leather, since I want you for a drum.30the shrimpThe shrimp that slumbers is taken by the tides.31the arrowsThe arrows of Adam the Indian, strike where they hit.32the musicianThe rubber-lipped musician does not want to play for me anymore.33the spiderBeat it silly with a stick, do not let it near me.34the soldierOne, two and three, the soldier heads to the fort.35the starSailor's guide.36the saucepanThe attention I pay you is little. (A pun: "attention" and "saucepan" are homophones in Mexican Spanish)37the worldThis world is a ball, and we a great mob. (A pun: bola can mean both "ball, sphere" and "crowd, mob", bolón is a superlative with the latter meaning)38the ApacheAh, Chihuahua! So many Apaches with pants and sandals.39the prickly pear cactusPeople go to see the prickly pear, only when it bears fruit.40the scorpionHe who stings with his tail, will get a beating.41the roseRosita, Rosaura, come, as I want you here now.42the skullAs I passed by the cemetery, I came across a skull.43the bellYou with the bell and I with your sister.44the little water pitcherSo often does the jug go to the water, that it breaks and wets your slip.45the deerJumping it goes searching, but it doesn't see anything. (A pun: "deer" sounds like "see nothing")46the sunThe blanket of the poor.47the crownThe hat of kings.48the canoeLupita rows as she may, sitting in her little boat.49the pine treeFresh and fragrant, beautiful in any season.50the fishThe one who dies by its mouth, even if he were mute. (In reference to a fish being hooked by its mouth, even though it doesn't utter a sound.)51the palm treePalmer, climb the palm tree and bring me a coconut fit for kings. (Lit: "A royal coconut.52the flowerpotHe who is born to be a flowerpot, does not go beyond the hallway.53the harpOld harp of my mother-in-law, you are no longer fit to play.54the frogWhat a jump your sister gave, as she saw the green frog.
In popular culture Lotería was played multiple times in the satirical telenovela Jane the Virgin.
In 2017, artist Mike Alfaro created Millennial Lotería, reimagining the game for a millennial audience with new cards such as "La hashtag", "La feminist" and "La selfie".
On December 9, 2019, Google celebrated with a Google Doodle. The doodle was a game of that could be played with online players. Some new cards are added: ("the search engine"), ("the axolotl"), ("the emoji"), etc.
In July 2021, Netflix announced a film adaptation based around the game with James Bobin set to direct and Eugenio Derbez in a leading role.
On October 2, 2023, a game show based on lotería premiered on CBS, titled Lotería Loca and hosted by Jaime Camil. On each episode, two contestants compete for a chance to win up to $1 million.
See also Bài Chòi – a Bingo game from Vietnam that also use cards and a singer
References
Further reading Lotería: A Novel, by Mario Alberto Zambrano Playing Lotería: El Juego de La Lotería, by René Colato Laínez El Arte de la Suerte, by Artes de Mexico Número 13, Otoño 1991, Nueva Época Loteria Rules and how to play
External links
Pictures of different lotería decks Lotería de pozo : Another way to play lotería Rules and pictures