Oh Hello I am so glad you have come by for a visit. Please won't you come in a sit by the fire and have a cup of tea? Would your children like to join us? Over in the diningroom the grandchildren are spinning dreidels. Would you like to play? You don't know how? Ahh...come along we will teach you.

What are they singing? Oh it is a song, "I have a Little Dreidel, I made it out of clay..." Why clay? well is was easily accessible back in 165 BC, just dig in the ground a find a lump of clay to bake in the oven.

You see back in 165BC the Greeks were demanding that the Jews forsake their God, their temple, their way of life, even their language. Hedonistic Jews went along with these changes but many did not. So in secret they would meet together and teach the children their language and Alpha-bet. When the Greeks would pop in and check on them, they would pretend to be gambling, spinning tops and betting coins.

Today the Dreidle has four letters painted on its sides, outside of the land of Isreal the letters are;  Nun, Gimmel, Hay and Shin. Which stand for Nes Gadol Hayah Shom, "A Great Miracle Happened There". Inside Isreal The Letters are different because "A Great Miracle Happened HERE" so the letters are Nun, Gimmel, Hay and Pay "Nes Gadol Hayah Po"  Now you have even had a Hebrew lesson today. Just like a Homeschooler, always making a lesson out of everything!

The children gather around and take turns spinning their dreidels hoping to win the Gelt in the center of the table. No Not GUILT, Gelt, chocolate coins covered in gold foil. The letter determines the amount he win or loose. Like this...

Nun" means Nothing, you win nothing, you lose nothing.

"Gimel" means you Get to take the whole kitty.

"Hay" means you win half of what's in the kitty.

"Shin" (or in Israel - "Pay") means "share" or "put in" - you lose, and must put one ...more into the kitty

Now that you know how to play would you like to make a paper dreidel? go here

Or for the BOYS who love Star Wars...a Droidel

And of course you can play with a virtual dreidel online here

So please come and play wit us as we get ready to celebrate Chanukah for the next Eight Days Starting the EVENING of December Fourth! We will light the Chanukiah (a Menorah with nine branches) have Latkes with dinner, tell stories about the brave Maccabees, Hannah and her Seven sons and play dreidel. We may even have a present or two.

Oh You have never seen a Chanukiah? Never eaten a Latke? and do not know about the Maccabees nor Hannah???? Oh dear we have much to talk about.  I hope you will cup back again and have another cup of tea with me.

The History Channel has a wonderful 4 minute video on Chanukah as well. Just incase you can't wait until then.

The Holiday Open House 2007 is sponsered by Tiany. Come by and share your home, Holidays and Family with us.

 and you can read about Latkes here

You can read about Hannah and her seven Children here

You can read about Jesus in the Chanukah Celebrations Here

You can read about How to Spell Chanukah Here