So, yesterday we went over the basic rules of dreidel.
Today, I give you a link to a dreidel pattern to print out and make your own. Even though these probably won’t spin. But they’ll look cool?
- The folks at HanuKat have combined their twin loves for Judaica and felines into this lovely printable design which also provides handy game instructions on each side panel.
Who knew? In Googling around, it appears that the origin of the Dreidel game is German and that basically the letters first represented German words meaning: Nichts (nothing), Ganz (all), Halb (half), and Stell (put).
According to About.com, in a clever early marketing effort to connect the non-Jewish-specific game with the holiday, someone created the Nes Gadol Haya Sham mnemonic to match up those original German cardinal letters with Hebrew ones.
On a less pedantic note, a pair of songs to go with dreidel-ing (not to be confused with yodeling)
Also sivivon is another word for dreidel in Hebrew.
1) Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel/I made it out of clay/And when it’s dry and ready/Oh dreidel I shall play (repeat ad infinitum)
2) Oh Hannukah, Oh Hannukah, come light the Menorah
Let’s have a party, we’ll all dance the hora
Gather round the table, we’ll give you a treat
Sivivon to play with, and latkes to eat.
And while we are dancing
The candles are burning low,
One for each night, they shed a sweet light
To remind us of days long ago.
One for each night, they shed a sweet light
To remind us of days long ago.