This song is available on Hap Palmer's "Holiday Songs & Rhythms."
This is a traditional Jewish folk song which celebrates
Hanukkah, The Festival of Lights. One of the verses
speaks of the Dreydl, which is a four sided top
used in a traditional Hanukkah game. On each side of
the Dreydl there is a Hebrew letter, NUN, GIMMEL,
HAY, SHIN.These four letters are the initials of the
Hebrew words “Great Miracle Happened There.” The
Members of your class may want to play the Dreydl
game.
At the start of the game, each player takes an equal
number of nuts, leaving some in a bowl. Each layer
in turn spins the Dreydl. If the Dreydl stops on the
letter NUN, the player receives nothing. If the
Dreydl stops on the letter GIMMEL, the player must
put one nut into the bowl. If the Dreydl stops on the
letter HAY, the player takes half of the nuts in the
bowl. But when the Dreydl stops on the letter SHIN,
the player takes all the nuts in the bowl.
Hanukkah, Hanukkah, festival of lights
Candles glow in a row, seven days, eight nights
Hanukkah, Hanukkah make your Dreydl spin
Round and round, round and round, everyone join in
Hanukkah, Hanukkah, what a merry time
Cakes to eat, what a treat, see the faces shine
Hanukkah, Hanukkah sing and dance this way.
Round and round, round and round, happy holiday
This song is available on Hap Palmer's "Holiday Songs & Rhythms."
