People play dreidel on Hanukkah because it became a traditional holiday game that recalls both the miracle of Hanukkah and later Jewish folklore about secret Torah study.
Historical and legendary roots
A popular legend says that during the time of the Maccabees, when the Greek- Syrian rulers banned Torah study, Jews would secretly learn and keep a spinning top nearby so that if soldiers came, they could pretend they were just playing a game. This story turned the simple top into a symbol of Jewish resistance and dedication to learning, which fit naturally with Hanukkah’s themes.
Historians also point out that dreidel grew out of older European spinning-top gambling games that Jews adopted and then attached to Hanukkah over time. The game eventually became a beloved children’s custom for the holiday, even though its origins are partly borrowed and partly legendary.
Meaning of the letters
The four Hebrew letters on the dreidel—nun, gimel, hei, and shin—are explained as the initials of the phrase “Nes gadol haya sham,” meaning “A great miracle happened there,” referring to the Hanukkah miracle. In Israel, the last letter is often pei instead of shin, changing the phrase to “A great miracle happened here.”
Some rabbinic teachings and folk explanations also connect the letters or their numerical values to ideas like different empires that oppressed the Jews or to the concept of redemption, giving the game layers of symbolic meaning beyond simple play.
Why we still play today
Playing dreidel is now a way to celebrate Hanukkah that is fun, easy to share with children, and tied to giving or winning “gelt” (chocolate coins or small treats). The game helps keep the story and themes of Hanukkah—miracle, resilience, and Jewish learning—in people’s minds while they enjoy time together.
