Each year on December 4th, people across the United States celebrate National Dice Day.  There are many games that dice are a part of and there are games with just the dice, so to celebrate National Dice Day, choose your favorite one and play away!

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Typically dice are thrown onto a flat surface either from the hand or a dice cup.  The value of the throw is determined by the uppermost face of the die after it has come to a rest.  One popular dice game is craps where wagers are made on the total value of the throw of the dice.  Frequently used in board games, dice are used to randomize a players moves, commonly by deciding the distance a piece will move on a board.  Popular board games using dice are backgammon and Monopoly.

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The origin of dice is uncertain however it is known that they have been around for thousands of years.  At the Burnt City, an archaeological site in south-eastern Iran, the oldest known dice were excavated as part of a 5000-year-old backgammon set.

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Dice were originally made from the talus (ankle bone) of hoofed animals.

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Ivory, wood and plastics are other materials used in making dice.