History & Crafty Uses of Dominoes


I snooped around online and learned a bit more about dominoes. They probably derive from dice (although some people believe it could've been vice versa). The earliest dominoes come from China, circa 1120 CE. They traveled to Europe, probably first to Venice and Naples, in the 1700s. The name derives from the French word for a black and white hood worn by Christian priests in winter. (All this comes from this "History of Dominoes" page.)


Probably the most common use of "domino" outside of games is "domino theory" or "domino effect," first applied during the Cold War. It posited that if one land in a region came under the influence of communism, then the surrounding countries would follow in a domino effect

Most crafters use dominoes to make bracelets and pendants. Some are plain, while others are elaborately decorated. There are many websites with instructions for domino bracelets, but I found one that looks particularly useful, from "The Enchanted Gallery." 

More projects to find time to do!