Curse of Scotland facts for kids

The nine of diamonds is sometimes referred to as the "Curse of Scotland"

The Curse of Scotland is a special nickname. It is used for the nine of diamonds playing card. People have used this phrase for a long time, since the early 1700s. Many different ideas explain why this card got such a unique name.

Why is it Called the "Curse of Scotland"?

People have wondered for centuries why the nine of diamonds is called the "Curse of Scotland." Many stories and theories try to explain this mystery.

Old Stories and Ideas

In 1825, a book called Scotsman's Library suggested one idea. It said that the Duke of Monmouth wrote orders on a nine of diamonds card. This happened before a battle in 1679 called the Battle of Bothwell Bridge.

Later, in 1885, a book reviewer had another idea. They thought the phrase came from an order written by the Duke of Cumberland. He was sometimes called "Butcher" Cumberland. He supposedly wrote on a nine of diamonds card before the Battle of Culloden in 1746. However, the book itself said that the "Curse of Scotland" must be something the Scottish people really hated. It suggested that Scots strongly disliked the Pope.

The "Pope Joan" Card Game

A popular card game in the 1800s was called Pope Joan. In this game, the nine of diamonds was a very powerful card. It was even called the "Pope." The game was played on a special board. The middle of the board was marked "Pope Joan" for this card. Some people thought this was why the nine of diamonds became known as the "Curse of Scotland." They believed that if the nine of diamonds was the "Pope" in the game, then it was also the "Curse of Scotland."

Arms of the Earl of Stair. The Dalrymple family arms - nine yellow lozenges on a blue cross - are in the first quarter.

Other Interesting Theories

Many other ideas have been shared about the origin of the nickname:

• The Earl of Stair's Family Arms: The family symbol of John Dalrymple, who was involved in the massacre of Glencoe, had a pattern. It showed nine diamond-shaped symbols called lozenges.
• A Mix-Up with "Cross": Some thought "curse" was a changed version of "cross." They believed the nine pips (dots) on the card looked like the St Andrew's Cross. This is the cross on the Scottish flag.
• Bad Scottish Kings: Another idea was that every ninth King of Scotland was a bad ruler.
• Stolen Jewels: During the time of Mary, Queen of Scots, a thief supposedly stole nine diamonds from the Crown Jewels. All of Scotland had to pay taxes because of this theft.
• Lost Card Before Battle: Before the Battle of Flodden, James IV spent time looking for a missing nine of diamonds card. Some say this time should have been used to get ready for the battle.
• The Game of "Comette": Some believed that Mary of Lorraine (or James, Duke of York) brought a game called "Comette" to Scotland. In this game, the nine of diamonds was the winning card. Many Scottish nobles lost their money playing this game.

In 1864, a book by Robert Chambers called these ideas "weak and unhelpful." He thought the theory about the Earl of Stair's family arms was stronger. He also pointed out that the "Curse of Scotland" phrase was used even before the Battle of Culloden.

What Experts Think Today

In a dictionary from 1898 called Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, the "Pope Joan" and "Comette" theories were popular. However, newer versions of the dictionary do not pick a favorite theory.

Gurney Benham, who wrote a book about playing cards, had his own idea. He said the crown of Scotland only had nine stones because they could not afford a tenth.

Eric Partridge's dictionary of slang says that the different theories are "interesting but not convincing." The Collins Encyclopedia of Scotland simply states that the "Curse of Scotland" is usually the nine of diamonds, but the reasons for it are different.

Other Meanings of "Curse of Scotland"

Sometimes, the phrase "Curse of Scotland" is used more generally. It can mean having bad luck in a card game. It can also refer to other unwanted things in Scotland, like many tiny biting insects called midges.

There is also a special belief in theaters. It is sometimes called the Scottish curse. This belief says that speaking the name Macbeth inside a theater brings bad luck. Because of this, people often call Shakespeare's play "the Scottish Play" instead.

See also

• List of playing-card nicknames