Sigma Lambda Beta Fraternity teamed up with Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority Inc. to expose Prairie View A&M University students to a Hispanic tradition through Loteria night Tuesday.
“Loteria,” which means lottery in English, is the Mexican version of bingo played with images on a deck of cards. The image on the card contains a name and number, similar to regular bingo. Each player receives a “tabla,” a table of multiple images that correspond with the name and number. There are a total of 54 images depicting different objects, animals, and riddles, created by Pasatiempo Gallo in 1887.
To play, a player randomly selects a card from the deck and reveals the card’s name, image, or recites the riddle written on it. The players with the matching pictogram on their “table” mark it with pinto beans or a chip. The first player to get four pinto beans or chips horizontal, vertical, diagonal row, or squared patterns shout out “Loteria” to claim their winnings.
“We decided to bring Loteria night to PVAMU because we wanted students to get a piece of Hispanic culture and fun. It is a common game played in the household,” said Sigma Lambda Beta president Rosendo Mosqueda. “Although we are a Hispanic fraternity, we open our doors to all races. We have Colombians, African-Americans, and Caucasians. Just because we are at an HBCU doesn’t mean students can’t endure our culture as well.”