Fuzzy dice

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Fuzzy dice, known in the British Isles as furry dice or fluffy dice, are an automotive decoration consisting of two plush dice which hang from the rear-view mirror. The classic style of fuzzy dice is white dice with black dots, roughly 3 inches on a side, although a wide variety of colors and sizes are now available in automotive supply and novelty stores. Fuzzy dice became popular in the United States for a brief period in the 1950s. Thereafter, they went through a number of cycles of popularity, but have not remained popular since the 1970s. Today, many people consider them tacky or camp.

Fuzzy dice are the precursor to a number of other mirror-hanging automotive accessories. The modern automobile owner is likely familiar with dangling pine tree air fresheners (Little Trees), as well as less common hanging disco balls, 8 balls, skeletons, and a bride's garter. An interesting variation is the hanging dice air freshener; such an item is generally not fuzzy but otherwise resembles fuzzy dice.

[edit] Fuzzy dice in pop culture

The music in Frank Zappa's movie Uncle Meat makes multiple references to fuzzy dice, including one song about a 1939 Chevy sporting fuzzy dice and bongos, brodie knobs and spinners, chromium-plated. This description is intended to give the impression of a car that is, depending on your point of view, either very stylish or overdecorated and tacky.

There is a Los Angeles, CA-based rockabilly group called The Fuzzy Dice.

In Star Wars the Millennium Falcon has a pair of dice hanging from the ceiling of the cockpit. Han Solo brushes against them when he climbs into the pilot's chair at docking bay 94 but they are not seen throughout the rest of that or the other movies. (the Star Wars Collectible Card Game features Han's Dice as a card.) In the Special Edition, they are only visible in the shot where Chewbacca first climbs into the cockpit.

A line in the song "Race Car Ya-Yas" by Cake compares fuzzy dice to testicles.

One of the familiars a player can obtain in the online game Kingdom of Loathing is a pair of fuzzy dice.

Fuzzy versions of the polyhedral dice used in many role-playing games are sold as novelties in stores or at conventions that market to players of those games.

In the episode of Futurama The Honking, Bender wakes up with fuzzy dice in his chest cabinet, to which Fry responds: Aw, relax, buddy. You were probably just shooting some big, fuzzy craps.

[edit] Fuzzy dice and the law

Fuzzy dice, or any dangling decoration that could potentially limit visibility, are outlawed in many jurisdictions, usually punishable by fine. However, citations are rare except in cases where this visual obstruction is believed to have actually contributed to an accident. In any case, fuzzy dice alone generally provide insufficient cause to stop a motorist.