In the second world war, soldiers in the 506 Parachute Infantry Regiment of the American 101 Airborne Division painted spades on their helmets as a symbol of good luck.ĭuring the Vietnam War, some U.S. This fact is especially true in most gambling card games.īecause of this, the spade symbol is now widely associated with not just gambling, but winning big for many Americans. The spade and, more specifically, the ace of spades is typically the best and highest ranked card in any given card game. This is, of course, thanks to the symbol’s association with cards.

In American culture, the spade has largely become synonymous with poker and gambling culture. Today, the spade is one of the most recognisable symbols in card games, and continues to be a popular choice for games and collectors alike. Over time, the spade suit came to represent death, due to its association with the Black Death pandemic that swept through Europe in the 14th century. The spade suit likely derived from the black Jack of Clubs, which was one of the more popular cards in early card games. Cups (hearts) symbolized the bourgeoisie, and Coins (diamonds) stood for the peasantry.

The four suits were based on extant symbols of social classes: Swords represented the nobility, while Staves (clubs) represented the clergy. At that time, cards were hand-painted and used for amusement and gambling. The spade suit has its roots in medieval Europe, where cards were first introduced. Here is the origin of the spade, along with some notable uses of the symbol throughout history. The spade symbol dates back a very long time. Whether you’re thinking about getting a spade tattoo or just curious about what they represent, read on to learn more. Rather, it’s a personal symbol with a range of meanings that can be placed upon the symbol. The popular triangular design is gaining in popularity, but what does it mean?Ĭontrary to popular belief, the spade tattoo doesn’t have one specific meaning. Have you ever seen someone with a spade tattoo?

King of spades finger tattoo