Loteria

Loteria is a Mexican card game that can be compared to Bingo. It's a game of chance that instead of using numbers on a ball uses pictures on cards. There is a caller and players. Each player has at least one card that contains 16 pictures on it. Players can play more than one card at a time. The caller draws cards from the deck and then announces the card. If the object is on a player's card, they cover up the picture with a bean or another object. When they have four objects covered in a row, they win the game.

Some callers make up little stories to go with the object on the card instead of just saying what the card is. The rules of Loteria can vary like the caller can either draw cards from the top or bottom of the deck. Some versions a player wins when they have covered the four corners of the card. Some rules change the pattern or may play until a person has a coverall. No matter how you determine the rules of winning, Loteria is very similar to Bingo. Those who enjoy playing Bingo might enjoy Loteria for a change of pace.

Loteria cards feature beautiful artwork. They are rich and vibrant with color. There are 54 cards with each one depicting a different object. Some of the objects include a rooster, a girl, and the moon. The cards in my deck are numbered and feature the Spanish word for the item as well as the English word.

The game of Loteria can be traced back to the 15th century where in Italy the game was used to collect money from the poor. It was introduced in Mexico in the 18th century by Spain. At first, Loteria was a game the upper class played but as time passed Loteria became a favorite game at Mexican fairs.

Because there is no reading involved or recognizing numbers, Loteria is a great game for the younger kids. With a deck of Loteria cards that have both the Spanish and English words makes it a great bilingual learning tool for kids or adults. The artwork of the Loteria cards is reason enough to buy a deck. Loteria can be found online or through your local Mexican grocery store.