Coins, or “gelt” (the Yiddish word for “money”), are traditionally given as gifts to children at Hanukkah. The giving of money is intending to teach children about charity – some of the money would be given away and some would be kept to enjoy the holiday. Many families today give their children chocolate coins rather than real ones, often used for playing the dreidel game.

You can get into the Hanukkah spirit by making these felt gelt bags with your kids. If you’re having a large family gathering, make a gelt bag for each child. They’re the perfect place for all the kids to keep their dreidel winnings whether chocolate coins, or real!

You’ll Need:

• Dark blue felt (one 9×12 inch piece will make 2 gelt bags)
• Craft or felt glue
• Scissors
• Silver and gold glitter glue

Directions:

1. Cut 2 strips, approximately a half inch wide, off the short end of the piece of felt. Set these aside. They will become the handles for your gelt bags.
2. Fold your piece of felt in half, lengthwise, and cut along the fold. You now have two long rectangles. Each one will become a gelt bag.
3. Put glue along the long sides of each rectangle.
4. Fold each rectangle up and press the sides together to form the bags.
5. Place a dot of glue the top corners of each bag and attach the end of a handle to each corner.
6. Use the glitter glue to decorate the front of each bag. I made a silver Star of David on one of my bags and a gold menorah on the other!
7. Fill your gelt bags with real or chocolate coins!