National Solitaire Day is a holiday observed on May 22nd every year, celebrating a card game that most people are probably familiar with. Although playing cards were first invented in the 10th century in China, it wasn’t until the 18th century that solitaire, as we know it, came into being. It’s believed to have originated in the Baltic area of Europe and probably began as an initial form of cartomancy—or tarot reading.

There are early records showing that the game Card Solitaire began in Europe and Scandinavia in the late 18th century. This game, also known as Patience, appeared in France around the same time. By the 19th century, solitaire had made its way to the U.S. and was first written about in the book “Patience: A series of 30 games with cards,” published by Ednah Cheney in 1870.

The History Of National Solitaire Day

Now that we know about the history of solitaire, let’s take a few moments to talk about the history of National Solitaire Day. This holiday was originally created on May 22, 2018, by Microsoft.

They created this holiday to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Microsoft Solitaire—a game that debuted in 1990 with the release of Windows 3.0. This game has become so popular, it’s been called one of the most played video games in history.

Observing National Solitaire Day

You don’t have to go through a lot of fuss or trouble to enjoy this holiday. All you have to do is take the time to play solitaire at some point during the day. This can be with an actual deck of cards or on your phone or computer.

You can also learn more about the history of solitaire—if you wish. Since you’re just playing games on this day, why not also take the time to post online using the hashtag #NationalSolitaireDay? Let other people know about this holiday so they too can celebrate it.