World Tarot Day Date in the current year: May 25, 2024

Tarot cards are a type of playing cards that are often used in cartomancy (divination via cards). They originated in northern Italy in the 15th century under the name carte da trionfi. These card packs consisted of four suits of thirteen cards and additional trump cards with allegorical illustrations. From Italy, tarot cards spread across Europe.

The use of tarot cards for cartomancy dates back to the 18th century. It was popularized by French occultists who claimed that tarot cards have links to the Kabbalah, ancient Egypt, or ancient oriental divination practices. Eventually custom tarot decks emerged, designed to be used specifically for divination.

A traditional tarot deck used for readings consist of 78 cards split into two groups: the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana are 22 numbered allegorical cards: The Fool, The Magician, The High Priestess, The Empress, The Emperor, The Hierophant, The Lovers, The Chariot, Strength, The Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Justice, The Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon, The Sun, Judgement, and The World. The Minor Arcana are 56 suited cards, with 14 cards in each of the four suits (traditionally Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles).

A tarot reading is usually performed by pulling a card or series of cards from the deck and interpreting them based on their symbolism, mutual arrangement, and the context of a particular situation. It should be noted that tarot card don’t predict the future; they help people find answers to their questions and provide spiritual guidance.

World Tarot Day was founded in 2003 by Tarot Grandmaster Den Elder to promote the use of tarot cards as a tool for self-guidance and spiritual growth, as well as to bring the global community of tarot readers together and break down the harmful stereotypes about tarot. Since its inception, the holiday has grown into a truly global celebration uniting tarot enthusiasts from different corners of the world.

In the past years, World Tarot Day has been promoted by Tali Goodwin and Marcus Katz, authors of award-winning and bestselling tarot books and founders of Tarot Professionals. The holiday is marked by various events and activities such as tarot reading workshops, talks, presentations, demonstrations, fairs, parties, gatherings, online readings, and more.

There are many ways to get involved with World Tarot Day. If you know very little about tarot but would love to learn more, you can read articles about tarot online, purchase a book about tarot, get a personalized tarot reading, and maybe even buy your first tarot deck. If you already have experience with tarot, you can buy a new deck for your collection, gift someone a tarot deck or a book on tarot, offer free tarot readings to your friends, or learn a new style of reading. And don’t forget to post about the holiday on social media with the hashtag #WorldTarotDay.