The Smorfia

Historical Background

The most famous is undoubtedly the Neapolitan Smorfia, closely tied to the city of Naples and its historical connection with the Lotto game.

The origin of the term Smorfia is uncertain. Some suggest it derives from Morpheus, the Greek god of dreams. What is certain is that the Smorfia has become a well-established tradition among Lotto enthusiasts, with its own rules prescribing not only which numbers to play after dreaming of something but also which wheels and combinations to use.

The 90 Numbers of the Neapolitan Smorfia

Whether superstitious or not, the Smorfia can be a source of inspiration when choosing Lotto numbers, even just for fun. Below are the numbers, their Italian names, and their possible symbolic interpretations:

Number	Meaning	Possible Interpretation
1	Italy / Homeland	Something unique and unrepeatable
2	The little girl	Immaturity, lack of reason
3	The cat	Cat-like traits: sensuality, independence, cunning; also deceit
4	The pig	Greedy, selfish, messy person
5	The hand	Communication tool (handshake, prayer, etc.)
6	The one looking down	Female reproductive organ; need for comfort or worry
7	The clay pot	Happiness, family; metaphorically maternal womb
8	The Madonna	Spiritual matters; linked to Dec 8th (Immaculate Conception)
9	The offspring	Rebirth, fertility, success in endeavors
10	Beans	Money, earnings
11	Mice	Change of state, anxiety, or fear
12	Soldier	Conflict, struggle
13	Saint Anthony	Luck, miraculous event
14	The drunkard	Loss of clarity or something important
15	The boy	Freshness, initiative
16	The backside	Stroke of luck
17	Misfortune	Unfortunate event, bad luck
18	Blood	Energy, vitality; can indicate discomfort
19	Laughter	Positive situation, happiness
20	The party	Joyful event, escape from routine
21	Naked woman	Inner beauty, metaphorically “being exposed”
22	The madman	Suppression of real feelings
23	The fool	Completing something successfully
24	The guards	Need to be understood, showing authority
25	Christmas	Feeling of missing something (family, comfort)
26	Little Anna	Reference to Saint Anne; need for wisdom nearby
27	Chamber pot	Freeing oneself from a torment or nuisance
28	Breasts	Fertility, sweetness, maternal protection
29	Father of the children	Male reproductive organ; questioning masculinity
30	The lieutenant’s bullets/cannonballs	Bullets metaphor; good omen (sphere = perfection)
31	House owner	Guardian of inner self
32	The eel	Something elusive
33	The years of Christ	Desire for spiritual assistance
34	The head	Brain or intellectual capacity
35	The little bird	Need to fulfill one’s desires
36	Castanets	Social fun, releasing tension
37	The monk	Self-reflection, spiritual insight
38	Beatings	Aggression, physical release
39	Rope around neck	Important bond (umbilical cord metaphor)
40	Hernia	Pain, discomfort, annoyance
41	The knife	Bad omen, violence, drastic decisions
42	Coffee	Stimulate energy, improve situation
43	Woman on balcony	Gossip, communication difficulties
44	Prison	Feeling deprived of freedom
45	Good wine	Wealth, prosperity, financial security
46	Money	Something of value, even sentimental
47	The dead	Loss of a loved one, need for comfort
48	Talking dead	Wandering soul, unresolved grief
49	Meat	Physical health, desires
50	Bread	Physical and mental energy
51	Garden	Confined situation, or paradisiacal place
52	Mother	Closest person, maternal feelings
53	Old man	Seeking advice from a wise, experienced person
54	The hat	Something to hide something
55	Music	Expressing oneself, opening to the world
56	Fall	Lack of self-esteem, insecurity
57	The hunchback	Obsessive search for luck or stability
58	Parcel	Awaiting news, unknown content
59	Hair	Symbol of primal male strength, virility
60	Complaints	Unexpressed emotions
61	Hunter	Searching or hunting for something
62	Murdered dead	Sudden and worrying changes
63	Bride	Desire for emotional stability
64	Elegant coat	Dressing well to achieve a goal
65	Crying	Releasing anger or inner suffering
66	Two spinsters	Emotional loneliness
67	Squid in guitar	Sexual metaphor; feelings linked to physical relationship
68	Cooked soup	Comfortable and healthy life
69	Upside down	Sexual or metaphorical meaning (opposites)
70	The palace	Important place, ambition, success
71	Worthless man	Watch out for unreliable people
72	Amazement	Facing an unpleasant surprise
73	The hospital	Need for care, giving or receiving
74	The cave	Seeking contemplation, decision-making
75	Pulcinella mask	Cheerfulness, good luck
76	The fountain	Desire for wishes to be fulfilled soon
77	The devils	Awareness of dark side, frustration, lack of confidence
78	Beautiful girl	“Prostitute”; relationship for interest, not love
79	The thief	Beware of false friends
80	Mouth	Experiencing hardship or difficulty
81	Flowers	Well-being for self or others
82	Set table	Family desires, social enjoyment
83	Bad weather	Especially rain; symbol of despair or low self-esteem
84	Church	Religious sentiment, peace, or prayers
85	Soul of Purgatory	Awareness of mistakes, desire to atone
86	Shop	Work, understanding priorities
87	Lice	Bad news regarding health
88	Cheese wheels	Goodness, literal or metaphorical (sometimes revenge)
89	Old woman	Wisdom, giving advice
90	Fear	Real-life fears and facing them