| Also called Hanukkah and Chanukah, Hanukkah is | | | | Nes (N-miracle), Gadol (G-Great), Haya |
| one of the most important Jewish holidays. It | | | | (H-happened), and Sham (S-there, meaning in |
| takes place every year in mid to late December. | | | | Israel). |
| Though the date varies on the western calendar, | | | | Each player gets equal amounts of candy or coins. |
| it always begins on the 25th day of Kislev in the | | | | Each player places one in the center, or "pot" and |
| Hebrew calendar. The celebration begins with the | | | | each player will take turns spinning the dreidel. If it |
| menorah, which holds nine candles. Eight candles | | | | lands on Nes, the player gets nothing. If it lands on |
| represent the eight days of Hanukkah, and the | | | | Gadol, the player gets all the pot, and each player |
| ninth, the Shamash, is used to light the other | | | | again contributes a candy to allow the game to |
| candles. | | | | go on. If it lands on Hey, the player collects half |
| The Hanukkah tradition recognizes oil as one of | | | | the pot, and everyone contributes again. If it lands |
| the central themes of Hanukkah, and this is | | | | on Sham, the player puts one of their candies |
| reflected in the foods enjoyed on the holiday, | | | | back into the pot. The player with all the candies, |
| foods like latkes, or potato pancakes, sufganiyot | | | | wins the game. If time is a constraint, just give a |
| (jelly-filled donuts) Cheese Blintzes, and cheeses | | | | specific amount of time, and the one with the |
| and dairy products are the staples of the | | | | most pieces wins. |
| Hanukkah diet, so obviously that would be | | | | The most important thing about Hanukkah is |
| incorporated into any Hanukkah celebration. | | | | celebrating the miracle of the menorah, which |
| Supplies for traditional Hanukkah games such as | | | | burned for eight days on enough oil for only one |
| the Dreidel Game, in which participants sit in a | | | | day. That miracle is the basis for the festival of |
| circle, and are given twenty candy drops | | | | lights, called Hanukkah. Each day of Hanukkah, a |
| (peppermints, special foil-covered chocolates that | | | | candle is lit, progressing until the festival of lights is |
| look like coins, or even pennies) and they spin the | | | | complete, with all eight candles burning, and one |
| Dreidel, a toy that looks like a spinning top, which, | | | | and all giving thanks for the miracles God has |
| alluding to the miracle of Hanukkah, have letters | | | | given in their lives. |
| on each side: | | | | |