What is Loteria? It’s a board game similar to American BINGO. Like BINGO it is played on a card that is made up of squares with a number in each square coordinating to a letter. The biggest difference is that Loteria is played on a game board that is vibrant with color, and pictures with names. It consists of game boards called “tablas” and a special deck of 54 illustrated cards. An announcer calls out the drawn card, giving a short poem or phrase describing the image on the card. Each player places a chip or token to mark the corresponding image on the tabla. Our family uses pennies as markers, but many also use a bean, kernel of corn, small rocks or a wooden nickel or chip to mark the spot. Like in BINGO, the first player to fill the game board in the predetermined pattern will shout out “Loteria!” to win the game and receive the prize.
The game originated in the 15th century in Italy — was then found in Spain, and recorded in Mexico in 1769. As Mexico became colonized, it was initially played by the Mexican elite. Eventually the game was enjoyed by all social classes. The traditional Mexican Loteria game was established in 1887 by Don Clemente Jacques, a French businessman, who produced La Loteria in the printing division of his manufacturing plant along with many other items such as labels for packaged foods, invitations, party favors, and calendars. The game became hugely popular and embraced fully within the Mexican culture.
Mexican culture already existed in many areas of the southwestern United States. And as Mexican culture became more widespread and popular, so did La Loteria. My daughter invoked La Loteria into her artwork early in her artistic development. Her first solo exhibit was a collection of 21 loteria cards done in watercolor. I can still recall her anxiousness before the opening; and her excitement at the end of the evening. She sold every one of her paintings at the opening reception and received commissions for additional paintings! She had worked months on her paintings and found the courage to put herself out there for the public to scrutinize. The deep sigh of relief and light in her eyes is a memory I will forever cherish. La Loteria was a familiar friend and it had inspired this artwork. I have seen this scenario repeated by several other artists.
