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• A dreidel is a four-sided spinning top that is popular with children during the holiday of Hanukkah.

• Fast Facts

  1. Hanukkah 2008: Sunset, December 21 to Sunset, December 29About.com: When is Hanukkah 2008
  2. The term dreidel came from the Yiddish word "dreyen" meaning "to turn".Jewish Mag: The Dreidel
  3. Traditionally played with Hanukkah Gelt
  4. Four symbols on the dreidel—Nun, Gimel, Hey, Shin stand for—Nothing, All, Half, and Put In
  5. Nun, Gimel, Heh and Shin represent Nas-Godol-Hayah-Sham, meaning "A Great Miracle Happened There"Jewish Mag: The Dreidel
  6. The four sides of the dreidel represent the four nations that once enslaved the Jewish peopleJewish Mag: The Dreidel

• Basic Rules of the Game

  Each player starts out with Hanukkah gelt which is 10 or more coins or pieces of candy. Each player places one piece into the center or what is called the "pot". The first player spins the dreidel and when the dreidel falls on its side, whichever marking it lands on is what the the player must do.MileChai: Dreidel Rules

  There are four markings.

  1. Nun which means "nothing" and the next player spinsMileChai: Dreidel Rules
  2. Gimel which means "all" and the player takes the entire potMileChai: Dreidel Rules
  3. Hey which means "half" and the player takes half of the potMileChai: Dreidel Rules
  4. Shin which means "put in" and the player must put a piece of his gelt into the potMileChai: Dreidel Rules

  
  

• Related Mahalo Pages

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