Just like Christians celebrate Christmas, Jews have long been celebrating the tradition of Hanukkah. From having a family get-together over the holiday to indulging in playful activities to keep the holiday spirit up, Jewish people follow through with some beautiful traditions during Hanukkah.
One such fun-filled activity and Hanukkah tradition is the game of Dreidel. In this game, a dreidel is spun around to decide the winner of the game.
Although the game is traditional, we are in a modern age, right? So, why keep the fun game stuck in its traditional way of playing?
That’s exactly what Google Doodle did while preparing their new game, Google Dreidel. It is a virtual Dreidel game that is played according to the Hanukkah tradition, but with a modern twist. This makes the entire game fun and interactive for everyone during the holiday season.
In this article, we have curated everything you need to know about Google Dreidel before the Hanukkah season starts. Keep reading!
The Origin Story of Dreidel
The word “dreidel” is a Yiddish term meaning “to turn” or generally to spin something. Jews used this word for the game as it befits the nature and concept of this traditional spinning game.
For the game, a four-sided dreidel with different Hebrew letters carved on each side is used. These four letters are four symbols referring to four different words. Once you connect the four words together, it means “A great miracle happened here,” referring to the start of Hanukkah.
With the playful tradition of the dreidel, the Jewish people celebrated their traditions and cultural gatherings during Hanukkah.
Moreover, the game has a historical significance and great folklore that binds the game with the celebration. During the Seleucid dynasty, the game was started by the Jews to secretly practice and discuss Bible scriptures under the strict laws of the Greeks.
They used the dreidel game to camouflage their religious discussions with the gambling activities. This way, the game started and remains one of the oldest traditional Hanukkah games.
What is the Cultural Significance of the Dreidel?
In this age, the dreidel is no longer considered just a table game. It has become a symbolic and cultural tradition of Hanukkah and the Jewish people.
Moreover, it has a great cultural significance, as it celebrates the historical events and folklore about miracles in Jewish tradition. And, in the modern times, it is a great holiday game to bring the family together.
For the Hanukkah season, the dreidel becomes a traditional game that family and friends can enjoy. Also, while playing the game, you are celebrating both the miraculous events and enjoying your family gatherings.
The Rules of Playing Dreidel
The rules for playing the dreidel are very simple. First, you need to know about the structure of the dreidel. It is a four-sided dreidel with Hebrew letters carved on it. These four letters are four symbols, including:
- Nun (נ) — This symbol means “nothing”. If your dreidel lands on this symbol, then you have to pass the dreidel to the next player. And, you gain nothing from your turn.
- Gimel (ג) — This symbol stands for “whole” or “great”. If your dreidel spins and lands on this symbol, you win the game. Also, you get all the pieces from the game pool, and the game ends.
- Hey (ה) — It is a simple symbol referring to “half”. So, in case your dreidel ends up landing on this symbol, you will get half of the pieces from the game pool. It is, in a way, a partial win for you.
- Shin (ש) — Lastly, this symbol refers to “put”. Now, if your dreidel lands on this symbol, you will need to add a piece from your lot into the game pool. It is a penalty point, and your next player will take over the turn.
The entire game relies on testing your luck with the symbols in the game. In a way, you get to have fun with your family and friends while playing this chance game during Hanukkah.
What is Google Dreidel?
Just like the traditional Dreidel game of Hanukkah, Google Dreidel uses the same testing of luck theme for its game. Even though it is a virtual spinning game, the virtual dreidel also has four sides with carved Hebrew symbols.
When you press the “Spin” option of the game, the virtual dreidel takes a few spins and lands on one of these symbols. Based on the symbol, you can decide the outcome of your game.
Moreover, Google Dreidel is a fun way to play the traditional game even when you are away from your family during the holidays. And, it shows Google’s dedication towards making it an inclusive and culturally aware platform for a diverse audience.
Additionally, Google has made its dreidel game fun and interactive with little insights into the cultural knowledge of Hanukkah. So, when you play the game, you are also learning new things about the Jewish traditions and practices.
How to Play Google Dreidel?
Just like the simple rules of the game, Google Dreidel is an easy game that you can play on any device. Here’s how to play dreidel on Google:
- Open Browser — First, open your local browser on your device. It can be any browser, like Google Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Opera.
- Open Google Search Bar — Once you have opened your browser, go to the Google search bar. If you don’t have the Google search bar, you can search the URL: google.com, and the search bar will open.
- Locate The Dreidel Game — After opening the Google search bar, type “Google Dreidel” and click Enter. The first result on the search results page will show you a tab with the dreidel.
- Start Playing — Just click on the dreidel, and you can start playing the game. Below the virtual dreidel, you will find a “Spin” option. Click on it, and the virtual dreidel will spin a few times and land on a symbol.
- Know Your Outcomes — Check the symbol it landed on and understand what you gained as the outcome:
- Nun (נ) — Means “nothing”. So, you neither take a piece nor give a piece into the game pool.
- Gimel (ג) — Refers to “great”. You win the game and take everything in the game pool.
- Hey (ה) — Means “half”. So, you take half of the pieces in the game pool and pass the turn to the next player.
- Shin (ש) — Refers to “give in”. As a penalty point, put a piece from your lot into the game pool.
- Take Turns With Friends — You can bring in your friends, and each can take turns spinning the virtual dreidel. And, you can enjoy playing the traditional Hanukkah game together.
How Many People Can Play Google Dreidel?
There is so specific limit for the number of players who can play the Google Dreidel together. So, you can include as many friends and family members as you want in the game.
However, you just need to check whether there are enough tokens to be used by all the players of the game. As you will need to give each player an equal number of tokens before starting the game, you should discreetly decide your number of players.
Moreover, if you have a huge gathering and you want to include all the members in the game, you can divide the players into smaller groups. Arrange a couple of devices to make rounds of the game and plan a competition.
Each group winner will then compete in the final match, and the one who wins it will be considered the Hanukkah Dreidel champion. Just remember to keep it fun for everyone and include them to celebrate the holidays together.
Popularity and Cultural Impact of The Game
It is not at all a surprise that the Google Dreidel has become a popular game for everyone. The netizens appreciated the launch of the game and actively engaged with this interactive dreidel spin.
Moreover, through the Google Dreidel, many people came to know about the traditions of Hanukkah and started participating in their celebration. This has enhanced the visibility of the Hanukkah traditions and culture amidst the pop culture of the era.
Now that you know everything about Google Dreidel, start celebrating something new from a diverse culture. This holiday season, gather your friends and family to play this fun and interactive game, appreciating the Hanukkah traditions
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