National dice day is coming up on 4 December, and we’ve got the perfect way to celebrate – with a fun-filled day of dice games! Whether you’re a die-hard fan of Yahtzee or just looking for something new to try, we’ve got the perfect match for you.
In honor of national dice day, we’re giving away free activity advice to help you celebrate! So roll up your sleeves and get ready to have some fun!
What is a Dice?
Dice are small objects that you can throw, with different numbers on each side. You use them to create random numbers for lots of different games, like board games and dice games. They’re also useful for role-playing games and any other game where chance is involved.
A standard die is a cube that has each of its six faces marked with a different number of dots, from one to six. When rolled, the die comes to rest, showing a random integer from one to six on its top surface, with every value being just as likely. Dice come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and colors.
They can be made out of different materials like plastic or wood. And instead of numbers, some dice have symbols or pictures on them. Some people even make special dice that are loaded to always roll a certain number so they can cheat at games!
How to Play Dice Games?
Dice games are easy to learn and can be played by people of all ages. You will need one or more players and a set of dice to play a dice game. Each player takes turns rolling the dice, and the results of each roll determine the game’s outcome.
A Dice History Lesson
You can see dice in different corners of the world, but the oldest set was part of the Royal Game of Ur. This game is also the most senior existing board game and is approximately 4,400 years old.
There was a small difference between ancient and modern dice forms. The concept six-faced cube with dots has been popular for centuries among people who love pastimes and gambling tools.
Did you know that tetrahedral dice have been around for centuries? They contained ceramic, wood, stone, and different metals. And brass dice go back to Tamil Nadu! During the American War of Independence, soldiers even used lead musket balls to make their entertainment in the form of these cubes.
Ancient people used dice from hoofed animals’ talus (ankle bones). But as time elapsed, they started to use ivory, wood, and plastic–anything that would suffice. Nowadays, we have access to much better materials; most dice are plastic or synthetic resin.
Hundreds of games worldwide use dice to add unexpected challenges or obstacles. Even without a board or game set-up, playing with dice can be fun!
How to Observe This Unofficial Holiday
If you want to celebrate National Dice Day, there are a few different ways you can go about it. One way is to play your favorite dice games with family and friends. Examples of such include backgammon, ball, and craps.
If adventurous, try your hand at crown and anchor or Farkle. Zombie dice are another fun option for the whole family! And don’t forget the classics: Yahtzee, Sic Bo, Dungeons & Dragons!
You can also bring dice day to work. Sure, it’s maybe not conducive for playing over the cubicle walls at the office, but perhaps playing some dice day games in the lunch room during a break would be a fun way to way to get to know coworkers better and know who to invite to that next game night function.
Learn more about the game of dice with this list of trivia, fun facts, and history! As you read these interesting tidbits of dice knowledge, please share them with friends, family, or coworkers. They’ll be impressed as they hear about the origins and rules surrounding this popular pastime:
- According to etymologists, the word “dice” is likely a combination of Latin and Old French. The French word ‘dé‘ and the Latin word ‘datum‘ both mean “something which is given or played.” Over time, this evolved to die (the singular form), with the plural being dice.
- If you roll a typical six-sided die, the numbers on opposite sides will always add up to seven: 6+1 or 5+2. Once you roll the dice, there’s no going back – similar to what Julius Caesar said in his famous quote.
You can also take this opportunity to add new dice sets to your collection and show them off on social media using #NationalDiceDay.
Another way is to learn how to play a new dice game. There are many different dice games out there, so there’s sure to be one that you’ll enjoy.
You could also use this day to teach others about the history of dice and how to use them in different games. Dice have been around for centuries, and there’s a lot of interesting history surrounding them. If feeling extra festive, you could make your dice out of clay or wood.
No matter how you choose to celebrate, dice day is the perfect opportunity to have fun and get your friends and family involved in dice-rolling action!
Interesting Facts About Dice
Seven! Seven! Seven!
If you have a six-sided die–the kind often used for board games–then the sum of any two opposite sides will always be seven.
That’s because there are six faces on a cube, and the numbers go around in pairs: 1-6, 2-5, and 3-4. So, when you add any two opposite numbers together (1+6, 2+5, or 3+4), the result will be seven!
All Dice are Uneven
Although a dice might look like it has a smooth, even surface, there is no such thing as a 100% even dice. That’s because the manufacturing process leaves tiny imperfections on the surface of the dice, which can affect the roll’s outcome.
The Material of Dice Was Once Bones
The first dice were likely made out of bones, as early as 6000 BCE! Can you imagine rolling a die made out of bone? These days, most dice are plastic or metal.
Different Cultures Have Different Dice Games
There are all sorts of dice games from around the world, each with its rules. Some popular dice games include Liar’s Dice, Bunco, Hazard, and Crown and Anchor.
You Can Use Dice in Various Settings
Dice are not just used for games but in education, science, and even construction! For example, dice are sometimes used in schools to teach probability and in construction to determine the size of a building’s foundation.
A Die With 120 Faces Exists
The world’s largest dice is a die with 120 faces, which Tony Fisher built in 2014. It weighs over 33 pounds (15 kilograms) and is almost 16 inches (40 centimeters) tall!
The Dots Have a Name
The small dots on the side of a dice that indicate its value are called pips.
You Can Use a Dice to Calculate Pi
In 1706, the mathematician Abraham de Moivre came up with a way to use dice to approximate the value of pi. To do this, he rolled two dice 100 times and divided the number of times the two dice landed on different numbers by the total number of rolls. This gave him a value of 3.15, which is pretty close to the actual value of pi (3.14)!
A Dice Can Have More Than Six Faces
The most common dice have six faces, but dice with four, eight, 10, 12, 20, and even 100 faces exist! Board games that require more than six numbers, such as Monopoly or Candyland, often use dice with more than six faces.
The Chances of Rolling a Die Are Not Equal
If you roll a die 100 times, you will probably not get an even number of each number. This is because some numbers, like seven and 12, are more likely to be rolled than others. This is because there are more ways to roll a seven than any other number (1+6, 2+5, 3+4, 4+3, 5+2, 6+1), and only one way to roll a 12 (6+6).
Different Dice Have Different Probabilities
The probability of rolling a die depends on its number of faces. For example, the possibility of rolling a seven on a die with six faces is 1/6, but the probability of rolling a seven on a die with eight faces is 1/8.
You Can Make Your Dice
If you’re feeling creative, you can make your dice at home! All you need is a cube of any material (plastic, wood, metal, etc.), some pips (small dots), and a way to attach the pips to the cube. Once you have all your materials, glue the pips onto the cube in the desired pattern, and voila! You have your very own dice.
Dice Have Been Around for Centuries
The Middle East likely created the first dice around 6000 BCE. Since then, dice have been used worldwide for games, education, and construction.
Why Don’t Dice Have Numbers on Them?
One common question about dice is why they don’t have numbers. The answer is quite simple because dice are random! If the numbers were on the dice, it would be easy to predict what number would come up next, which would take away from the fun of rolling dice.
So next time you’re wondering why dice don’t have numbers, remember that it’s because they’re meant to be random!
Reasons to Love National Dice Day
Dice Games Can Teach Us Essential Life Skills
Dice games are entertaining and teach essential life skills such as strategy, planning, execution, and social skills.
So Easy Yet So Effective
Among the reasons dice are widely loved even now is because it’s easy to transport and play. It’s a great way to spend quality time with yourself or others.
It’s a Fun Way to Celebrate Your Love of Dice
National dice day is the perfect excuse to break out your favorite dice games and have fun. So gather your friends and family, roll some dice, and celebrate National Dice Day!
It Helps to Improve Math Skills
Games that utilize dice, such as “Snakes and Ladder,” can improve a child’s understanding of numbers and basic math during their first two years of school.
It’s a Day to Be Creative and Make Your Dice Games or Crafts
Not only are dice a blast to play with, but they’re also fun to make! On dice day, get creative and make your dice games or dice-themed crafts. Be sure to share your creations with us on social media using the hashtag #NationalDiceDay.
It’s a Great Day to Play Dice Games Online
If you can’t be with your friends and family in person on National Dice Day, that’s okay! There are plenty of dice games you can play online. So gather your friends virtually and roll the dice to celebrate national dice day.
Some Popular Dice Games to Play
There are many dice games to choose from. We’ve compiled a list of the most popular ones.
Yahtzee
In Yahtzee, players roll five dice and try to score the most points by making certain combinations. The game is simple to learn but difficult to master, making it a favorite among dice lovers of all ages.
Bunco
This is a game played with nine dice, skill, and luck. It’s traditionally played with twelve people divided into teams of four. Rolls earn points, and the teamUpdateCancelwith the most points at the end wins!
Farkle
Players of this dice game take substantial risks to aim for the jackpot. After rolling all six dice, set aside the “bankable” ones and then re-roll or pass to the next player. However, beware that if you choose to re-roll but don’t gain additional points, you’ll lose everything you’ve gotten so far.
Shut the Box
This dice game is perfect for two players. The aim is to roll dice and then cover up numbers on the board that match the dice rolled. Once all the numbers are covered, the player with the lowest score wins!
Mexico
Mexico is a dice game that’s both easy and enjoyable to play. You need two dice per person, each player having an extra die. The number on this final die determines how many lives the player has at the beginning of each round. So everyone starts with six lives but loses some as the game continues.
After each game, the player with the lowest dice roll will lose a life. The winner of Mexico is the last player standing after all players have rolled their dice and lost their lives.
Left, Center, Right (LCR)
This game comes with special dice that have labels of “L,” “R,” and “C.” Players must pass chips around to each other based on the roll. For example, if you roll an “L,” you must pass one chip to the player on your left, and if you roll an “R,” you must pass one chip to the right. The first person to lose all their chips is out of the game.
Pig
Pig is a dice game that’s perfect for young kids. The game’s object is to score points by rolling a die and then choosing to either stop and bank your points or keep going and risk losing them all. If you roll a one, you lose all the points you’ve accumulated so far in that particular round. The winner is the first player to hit 100 points.
Kismet
In this game, players take turns rolling dice and then setting them aside based on the combination they’ve rolled. The goal is to score as many points as possible before the end of the game. Kismet is a great dice game for kids because it’s easy to learn, and they can play quickly.
Final Verdict
National Dice Day is the perfect opportunity to celebrate dice in all its forms! Get together with your friends and family (virtually or in person) and enjoy quality time together. And don’t forget to brush up on your dice knowledge so you can impress your friends and family with your dice game skills! Happy rolling!