Austria Post release a new stamp on 29th July featuring a custom which dates back to the 17th century - the Frankenburger Game of Dice.
The game originates from an uprising during the Thirty Yearsı War where 5,000 men revolted after a Catholic priest took control of the Protestant parish in Frankenburg. The angry mob laid siege to Frankenburg Castle for three days but were lured to Haushamer field after they agreed to lay down their arms.
Having been tricked by the Governor of Bavaria, half of the thirty six leaders of the uprising were sentenced to death whilst the other half were pardoned. The men were divided into pairs and were forced to play a game of dice for their lives, with the losers being hanged immediately (and you thought Yahtzee was tense).
The game has been performed since 1925 once every two years by the Wãrfelspielgemeinde Frankenburg, based on a play by Karl Itzinger. Around 400 actors take part in the open air spectacle which has become highly popular over the last 80 years.
