Dreidel is quite easy and is a fun game to play on Hanukkah.
The way to play it is with a four-sided top called a Dreidel, with the Hebrew letters:
nun (× )
gimel (×’)
he, pron. "hey" (×”)
shin (ש)
These letters are an acronym for "Nes Gadol Hayeh Shem" (A great miracle happened there) in Hebrew. In Israel, the dreidels are printed with a peh (פ), for "Nes Gadol Hayeh Po" (a great miracle happened here).
To play dreidel
Each person takes turns spinning the top and looking at the symbol on the face-up side. (usually there is light betting with chocolate coins, candies, or pennies).
gimel = the person gets the entire pot
nun = the person gets nothing
he = the person takes half of the pot
shin (or peh/pe on Israeli dreidels) = the person puts one coin in the pot.
This happens in rotation of players ad infinitum.
nun=nothing. the next player spins.
gimmel=all. the player who spun takes the whole pot.
hay=the player takes half of the pot.
shin=the player has to shell out two coins and put them in the pot.
First a description of a dreidel :
Assuming that you know you spin the dreidel and spinner puts in or takes out corners or candy based on the side that is up
a) If nun is facing up, the player does nothing.
b) If gimmel is facing up, the player gets everything in the pot.
c) If hey is facing up, the player gets half of the pieces in the pot. (If there is an odd number, they get half of the total plus one)
d) If shin (or peh) is facing up, the player adds a game piece to the pot.
So to make a dreidel you can:
Having done this write the Hebrew letters on each side, or the phoneic equivalent, or the English equivalent.
The lyrics are exactly the same regardless of what instrument is played along with them: I have a little dreidel. I made it out of clay. When it's dry and ready, then dreidel I shall play. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made it out of clay. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, then dreidel I shall play. It has a lovely body, with legs so short and thin. When it gets all tired, it drops and then I win! Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, with leg so short and thin. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, it drops and then I win! My dreidel's always playful. It loves to dance and spin. A happy game of dreidel, come play now let's begin. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, it loves to dance and spin. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel. Come play now let's begin. I have a little dreidel. I made it out of clay. When it's dry and ready, dreidel I shall play. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made you out of clay. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, then dreidel I shall play.
The name of the song is "I have a Little Dreidel" and here are the lyrics: I have a little dreidel. I made it out of clay. When it's dry and ready, then dreidel I shall play. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made it out of clay. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, then dreidel I shall play. It has a lovely body, with legs so short and thin. When it gets all tired, it drops and then I win! Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, with leg so short and thin. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, it drops and then I win! My dreidel's always playful. It loves to dance and spin. A happy game of dreidel, come play now let's begin. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, it loves to dance and spin. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel. Come play now let's begin. I have a little dreidel. I made it out of clay. When it's dry and ready, dreidel I shall play. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made you out of clay. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, then dreidel I shall play.
Dreidel dreidel dreidel, I made it out of clay, and when it's dry and ready, then dreidel I shall play.
I Have a Little Dreidel I have a little dreidel. I made it out of clay.When it's dry and ready, then dreidel I shall play.Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made it out of clay.Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, then dreidel I shall play. etc.
The symbols found on the Jewish Dreidel can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreidel
Conan - 2010 Dreidel Dreidel Dreidel I Made It Out of Thermoplastic High Density Polypropylene 4-15 was released on: USA: 4 December 2013
the symbol for nothing on a dreidel is "nun".
a dreidel is a four-sided top.
A Dreidel! There's also a song that goes with it when you spin it. I have a little dreidel I made it out of clay And when it's dry and ready Then dreidel I shall play CHORUS Oh dreidel dreidel dreidel I made it out of clay And when it's dry and ready Then dreidel I shall play It has a lovely body With legs so short and thin And when it is so tired It drops and then I win! CHORUS My dreidel's always playful It loves to dance and spin A happy game of dreidel Come play now, let's begin! CHORUS
Aside from spinning the dreidel upside down (which looks hard, but is actually very easy), there are no tricks. Just the Dreidel game.
The spinning top played with during Hanukkah is called a dreidel - דריידל in Yiddish and a Sevivon - סביבון - in Hebrew.
Yes, the word 'dreidel' is a noun, a word for a small toy; a word for a thing.