What You Spin During Hanukkah That Is Made Out Of Clay?
What is the Dreidel?
A dreidel is a four-sided spinning top that is used to play a popular Hanukkah game. It is traditionally made out of clay and often features Hebrew letters on each of its four sides. These letters stand for the saying “A great miracle happened there”, referring to the Hanukkah story of the miracle of the oil lasting for 8 days.
The dreidel game dates back to the times of Ancient Israel. When Greek-Syrians ruled over the land of Israel, they outlawed the study of Torah and Jewish books. To get around this, Jews would pretend they were just gambling by spinning dreidels whenever Greek soldiers walked by. The dreidel game allowed Jews to continue studying and teaching Torah illegally. Today, it endures as a beloved Hanukkah tradition and symbol of Jewish courage and identity.
The rules of the dreidel game are simple. Players begin by receiving an equal number of coins, chocolate gelt candies, nuts or other small items. Each player takes turns spinning the dreidel and depending on which side lands facing up, the player executes the corresponding action:
- Nun – take nothing
- Gimel – take everything
- Hey – take half
- Shin – put one in
The game continues until one player has won all the coins or candies. Though simple, it has endured over centuries as a fun way to celebrate the Hanukkah spirit and commemorate the Hanukkah story.
Origins of the Dreidel Game
The dreidel game has been played for centuries, originating as a way for Jews to play and gamble while hiding the fact that they were studying the Torah. During the rule of Antiochus, studying the Torah was forbidden in ancient Israel. When Jews would gather to study, they would have a dreidel on hand to make it look like they were gambling if discovered.
The earliest dreidels were carved from wood or cast in clay, featuring Hebrew letters. Over time, the letters came to represent the phrase “nes gadol haya sham,” meaning “a great miracle happened there,” referring to the Hanukkah miracle of the oil lasting eight nights. Dreidels used in Israel replace the letter shin with a hay, altering the phrase to “a great miracle happened here.”
Today, playing with a dreidel remains an essential Hanukkah tradition. On each of the eight nights of Hanukkah, it is customary for family and friends to gather together and play this spinning top game. The letters on the dreidel represent the rules of the game, with each player taking turns spinning the dreidel and following the corresponding instruction.
More than just a child’s game, the dreidel and its history carries important cultural meaning, reminding Jews of an ancient time when studying their faith required courage and cleverness.
How Dreidels Are Made
Dreidels are traditionally made from clay. The clay materials used vary, but common choices are porcelain, stoneware, or earthenware clay which can be shaped, fired, and decorated. Quality dreidels have an even consistency and density, with no air pockets or cracks.
The basic dreidel shape starts as a lump of clay that is pressed into a mold to form the main top-like body. Details like the Hebrew letters are then handcarved into each side. A short stem is attached at the bottom before the dreidel is left to air dry.
Once dried but before firing, dreidels may be decorated. Traditional designs often depict Hanukkah imagery like the Star of David, menorahs, or olive branches. More modern dreidels incorporate bright colors, glazes, or paints. Personalized dreidels can be customized with names or unique designs.
The finishing step is firing the dreidels in high-heat kilns which harden and set the clay. Firing can be done multiple times to gradually increase durability if needed. After firing, any final decorative touches can be added.
While dreidels were historically made in Jewish communities, today they are produced worldwide. Major production centers include Israel, Eastern Europe, and the United States. Both mass-manufactured and individually handmade dreidels are available.
Decorating and Customizing Dreidels
Dreidels are often decorated and customized to add a personal touch or creative flair. One popular way to customize dreidels is through painting and adding embellishments. Dreidels can be painted with acrylic or ceramic paints to create colorful designs, artwork, or personalized effects. Popular paint techniques include free-hand painting, using stencils and stamps, and printing or transferring graphics onto the dreidel surface. Painted dreidels are then sometimes enhanced with glitter, rhinestones, fabric trims or small trinkets glued on.
Another option is ordering a personalized dreidel customized with someone’s name or initials. These can make for great holiday gifts or keepsakes. Many Judaica shops and online retailers offer customizable dreidels where you can request text like names or words engraved or printed on the dreidel design you choose.
If you’re feeling crafty, you can also decorate dreidels artistically using markers, beads, stickers, clay, and other embellishments. Get creative stringing beads and charms together to make dreidel jewelry or garland. Some artistic dreidel designs incorporate mosaic tiles, polymer clay shapes, or found object materials into intricate and collage-style decoupage dreidels. The options for customizing and embellishing dreidels are endless!
Dreidel Game Strategies and Tips
Dreidel is a game of both skill and chance. While the spin of the dreidel ultimately determines what you’ll get, there are strategies you can use to increase your chances of winning.
Strategies for Winning at Dreidel
Here are some tips to boost your odds in a dreidel game:
- Pay attention to the letters showing up and keep mental track of what’s been spinning more often. If there are a lot of shins, play more conservatively.
- Don’t get too greedy. If you’ve amassed a decent pile of gelt, consider dropping out of the round or not putting in the full ante.
- Use any rules that allow stealing from the pot or extra spins to your advantage.
- When in doubt, bet on nun – it gives you a “free spin” without having to put anything in the pot.
- Stay focused and don’t get distracted during your turn.
Common Dreidel Mistakes
Some common mistakes to avoid when playing dreidel:
- Betting too aggressively, especially early on. Don’t put all your gelt in the pot right away.
- Not paying attention to the letters that have been spinning up. Keep track of trends.
- Getting distracted during your turn and spinning too hard or light.
- Forgetting the order of play and whose turn it is.
- Putting so much gelt in you’re left with nothing if you lose it.
With some strategic betting and focus on the game, your odds of building up the biggest pile of gelt are sure to improve!
Dreidel Game Variations
While the basic rules of the dreidel game are fairly consistent, there are some regional and modern variations that add extra fun and challenge:
In Israel, instead of the letter Shin, some dreidels have a Pe (for the word Po in Israel). This changes the Hebrew acronym and the rules slightly.
Some families play that rather than winning the pot, the player who spins Gimel takes half. This keeps the game going longer.
For a faster paced game, any player who spins Shin has to put in an additional coin rather than sit out a round.
For a more complex and strategic challenge, each player can get a certain number of chips and then bid on the pot for each round, with the highest bidder winning the spin.
Some modern dreidels have 6 sides instead of 4 in order to include more letters. This adds more variations to the traditional rules.
To spice up the game, some play that certain letters mean you have to complete a challenge, like singing a song, in order to win the pot.
Online dreidel games allow for global multiplayer matches and power ups like freezing the dreidel on a winning letter.
Ultimately the dreidel game is fun for the whole family, and part of the joy is putting your own spin on the rules!
Hanukkah Traditions Involving Dreidels
The dreidel game is a beloved tradition during Hanukkah celebrations. Families often play together, using chocolate gelt or other treats as gaming pieces. The game brings people together to celebrate the holiday and enjoy friendly competition.
Giving dreidels as gifts is also popular during Hanukkah. Beautifully decorated dreidels made of wood, ceramic or pewter can be given to loved ones as presents. Some families pass down heirloom dreidels from generation to generation.
In some communities, large public dreidel spinning contests are held, where people compete to see who can spin their dreidel the longest. Dreidel decorating and crafting activities are also common at schools and community centers.
The dreidel game represents more than just entertainment. Spinning the dreidel is a way to retell the Hanukkah story and remember the miracle of the oil lasting eight nights. The letters on the dreidel remind people of the phrase “A great miracle happened there.” Playing dreidel keeps Jewish history and culture alive.
Where to Buy Dreidels
Dreidels can be purchased both online and in stores. When shopping online, places like Amazon, Target, Walmart and Etsy all offer a wide selection of dreidels. Make sure to check product reviews to ensure you’re receiving a quality, well-made dreidel. For shopping in person, craft stores like Michaels and local Judaica shops are a good option. Some stores may also have pre-made dreidels you can decorate yourself. If you want a truly unique dreidel, many online shops on Etsy allow you to custom order dreidels in different shapes, sizes and colors.
When ordering a customized dreidel, you can choose the letters, materials, size and paint colors. Popular materials for customized dreidels include wood, plastic, glass and ceramic. Be sure to allow enough time for the creation and shipping of your custom dreidel in time for Hanukkah. Whether you buy online or in a store, look for bright, vibrant dreidels that spin well and feel sturdy. With the right dreidel, you’ll be ready to play this classic Hanukkah game.
Fun Facts About Dreidels
Dreidels have a long and fascinating history. Here are some fun facts about these spinning tops:
The world’s largest dreidel was over 16 feet tall and weighed over 600 pounds. It was carved out of ice and displayed in New York City in 1996.
The smallest playable dreidel is less than 1 millimeter wide. It was handcrafted by nanotechnologists in Israel.
In 2015, the Guinness World Record for most dreidels spun simultaneously was set in New York with 2,081 dreidels spun for over 10 seconds.
During Hanukkah in 2013, a dreidel measuring over 4 feet tall and 2 feet wide was lit with 9,000 LED lights and displayed in New York City’s Bryant Park.
Some dreidels found during archaeological excavations in ancient Israel date back over 2,000 years to the time of the Maccabees.
The letters on the four sides of dreidels vary by country. In Israel, the letters are פ (Pe), ג (Gimel), ה (He) and ש (Shin) representing the phrase “a great miracle happened there.”
In 1925, a 100 lb all-metal dreidel was constructed in Tel Aviv to celebrate Hanukkah. It took 10 men to spin it.
Dreidels have been made out of many materials over time including wood, pewter, plastic, and even gold and silver.
There is some evidence that ancient Romans played gambling games with spinning tops around the time of Hanukkah before the tradition of the dreidel game developed.
The Significance of the Dreidel
The dreidel holds deep cultural meaning and symbolism in Jewish society. More than just a fun game played during Hanukkah, the dreidel represents important concepts for the Jewish people.
The four letters on the dreidel (nun, gimel, hay, shin) stand for the Hebrew phrase “Nes Gadol Hayah Sham”, meaning “A great miracle happened there.” This refers to the miracles associated with the story of Hanukkah, when a small group of Jews were able to defeat the mighty Greek-Syrian army and reclaim and rededicate the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
The spinning dreidel represents fate or chance, reminding Jews that although they cannot control every outcome, they must still do what they can and trust in God. The dreidel game itself evokes the clandestine nature in which Jews had to study Torah during Greek rule when Jewish practices were outlawed.
The dreidel is more than just a game – it is a physical representation of key narratives in Jewish history and identity. Passing down the dreidel tradition from generation to generation helps ensure that the stories and meanings behind Hanukkah remain relevant and vital to Jewish culture.
Playing dreidel brings families together during Hanukkah and enables Jewish children everywhere to gain a deeper connection to their heritage. The fun and excitement surrounding dreidels helps solidify the Hanukkah spirit for both kids and adults.
