native-language decks

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 15 Jul 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

deranged_walrus	15 Jul 2004
This is for the people outside the US and Canada: I'd LOVE to have a deck depicting German life/lore, with the writing in German. Same goes for a Russian deck, and a South/Central American (think Dia de los Muertos, Aztec/Maya/Inca). I've looked online and don't see much that I like, and I'm not talking about shipping prices. My question is: would it be cheaper and easier to go to the country and buy it there? Like, are there more German-language decks in Germany than English? I've been told that it's difficult to find a New Age store in Germany. Say I find one...what can I expect to find? I'm going to Germany next year (therefore, cheaper to just buy it while I'm there), and I have friends from Colombia and Hungary, so I'd ask them to get some. But will it be a fruitful search, or just a waste of time? Neither of my overseas friends know much about "this stuff" so I ask youes before I approach them about it. Any insight? PS - I saw the Xultun Tarot, and am loving it. That's the strongest contender, and I don't care that it's in five languages. But perhaps there's a version released only in SA that's in Spanish only?

skh	15 Jul 2004
I don't think that german daily life as it would be depicted on cards is much different from that in any Generic Western Industrialized country. If you are looking for germanic mysticism, I guess most of it is available in english anyway - but yes, there might be a few small publishers and not so well known authors whose books are not translated. Be aware that the Nazis abused much of what is/was left of germanic lore, cult, myths and rituals, and they are still around. So if you find material, especially on the net, check if it is "tainted". Yes, we have new age bookstores in all larger and many smaller cities. Check the bookstore ("Buchladen") section in the local yellow pages or on http://www.gelbeseiten.de/ for names that sound new-agey. Depending on the store you'll find a fair selection of Waite and Thoth decks in different sizes and some more exotic decks, most if not all of them imported or translated US editions anyway. Maybe check amazon.de first. The most popular deck in germany is classic Waite-Colman-Smith, btw. ;-) hope that helps, Sonja (Nuremberg, Germany, Europe, Terra)

Rusty Neon	15 Jul 2004
For a Russian folkloric deck, check out the Egorov (titles in English). For a Finnish folkloric deck, check out the Kalevala (titles in English). For an Argentinian folkloric deck, check out the Napo (titles in Spanish and English).

Le_Corsair	15 Jul 2004
There are plenty of Russian-language decks on eBay, for some reason. Other foreign-language decks are less common; French and Spanish are easy to find, German and Italian less so; other languages only rarely. I think that there is a copy of the Hungarian Zsusza Ludvig Tarot on eBay right now, it is similar to a Marseilles deck (pip minors, etc.) Bob :THERM

deranged_walrus	15 Jul 2004
Sonja: Thanks so much for that info. I was hoping someone had made a deck with the culture strongest before WWI...liederhosen, yellow pigtails, beer halls and all. My dad's mom is from a long line of Germans, and my friend was born there. It's kind of funny, she learned the North German, and her mom speaks the Bavarian one, so half the time they argue it's in the two different ones and they can't understand. But they tell me stories and all, so I'd just like a little piece of my heritage in tarot cards. I will definitely look up the Buchladen when I go. Thanks! Rusty Neon: Thanks for your input, too. I've been go back tot he Egorov for a couple months now, debating whether I want it...to be honest, the misspelling puts me off a little...I'm neurotic like that. But then, Strength has rarely made an appearance in readings I've done...but then, it's my Astrological, Soul and Personality card. So we debate, and debate some more. As for the other two, not my cup of tea, but thanks! Le Corsair: See, I would never've thought to type in "russian tarot" on ebay. I did and found a couple that I'd like...if a bit expensive. But that's okay. Thnks for that tip!

The native-language decks thread was originally posted on 15 Jul 2004 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.