Dreidel

For many, dreidels have become the symbol of Hanukkah. Dreidels are tops with four sides, and are the signature game of Hanukkah. To learn how to play, follow the instructions:

Get a pile of nuts or gold and silver covered chocolate coins called gelt, and give out 10 nuts or coins to each player. Make sure that you have a 4-sided dreidel. Make each person put two nuts or coins into a central pile.

The dreidel's four sides each have a different meaning. First of all, there is a nun, which looks like this:

If you roll a nun, you don't take or lose anything.

Then, there is the side with a gimel, which looks like this:

If you roll a gimel, you take everything in the central pile.

Then, there is the side with a hey, which looks like this:

If you roll a hey you take one half of the central pile.

And last, there is the side with a shin, which looks like this:

If you roll a shin, you put one piece into the central pile.

After everyone has had a turn, everyone puts one piece into the central pile. Play goes on until players run out of pieces and drop out.