Make Your Own Dreidel for Hanukkah

No Hanukkah would be complete without dreidel. Dreidel has been a tradition for centuries. So whether you are looking for a really simple way to make a dreidel decorations with the kids, or would like to make a dreidel for the traditional Hanukkah games. I have all the information you need right here. Have a very happy Hanukkah!

So what is a dreidel? A dreidel is a four-sided top used for play during Hanukkah. The four sides each have a different character: nun.gimel,hay and shin. It is said that the game had originated in the time of Greek-Syrians. During this time the Jewish people were barred from studying their Torah by the Greek-Syrians. Legend has it that as a way to justify gatherings for Torah readings, Jewish people would keep or dreidel around so if any Greek-Syrians came by they could hide the Torah and act as if they were merely playing a game of dreidel. Another theory is that dreidel acted as an excuse to gather for discussions of Torah which would take place while spinning the top.

A more likely origin is one connected to the English Irish top game of a similar nature, also known as Teetotum or Totum. The letters used on top where N for “nothing”, T for “take all”, H for “take half”, and P for “put in”. When the game made its way to Germany the letters changed from N for nichts meaning “nothing”, G for “ganz” meaning all, H for “halb” meaning half, and s for “stell ein” meaning put in. When Yiddish speaking Germans Jews began playing the game, they used Hebrew letters which made the same sounds and the accompanying words: nischt, gantz, halb, and shtel.The dreidel has been a holiday favorite for centuries. Have some fun and put your own spin on it.

Traditional dreidel:

Things you will need -Hobby paintbrushes, acrylic paint, thin wood dowels, flat knife, dreidel kits, dreidel molds,modeling clay.

How to make it:

Step 1: Gather all of your supplies, you will find everything you need at your local craft store.

Step 2: Press moist clay into a cube-shaped mold, smooth the clay on the open side with a flat knife or ruler.

Step 3: Remove the clay from the mold while it is still moist.

Step 4: Insert a piece of your dowel into the center of one of the sides so that it reaches the middle of the cube.

Step 5: Press more clay into a cone or pyramid-shaped mold ( the flat side should be the same or slightly smaller then the side of the box.) Remove clay from mold while still moist.

Step 6: Affix the cone to the side of the cube opposite of the dowel.

Step 7: Let the clay dry

Step 8: Paint or stencil on each side of the blank cube the following Hebrew letters: Nun, Gimmel, Hay, and Shin ( look for Hebrew lettering).

Step 9: Let the paint dry and start your game.

Kids dreidel decoration project:

Things you will need

– 10 popsicle sticks, tacky glue, piece of card board, scissors, paint and paintbrush or markers.

How to make it:

1: Lay the popsicles sticks out on the cardboard

2: Glue them down: cut them off allowing for the entire length of the popsicle sticks.

3: Cut one popsicle stick in half, us it to make the handle of the top

3: Paint two of the symbols onto the dreidel

4: You’re all done!