Chapter 4: Chrismukkah 2024
The first night of Chanukah fell on Christmas night; Tony and Ziva had already let the other extended family know that they would be lighting the menorah at sundown and having the traditional latkes and applesauce for dinner that night. They'd invited all who wanted to attend to join them at home after the day at Gibbs' house.
Anthony's questions earlier in the day had led to an internet search on Ziva's part to find an answer. He'd asked if it was unusual for the first night of Chanukah to fall on Christmas day. She remembered that the two had coincided her first year at NCIS in 2005 but did not remember any others since. Her research verified what she remembered. The coinciding of the holidays prior to 2005 had been in 1959, well before either she or Tony were born.
As the family prepared for the lighting of the menorah for the first night, Ziva told the family what she'd discovered about the coincidence of the holidays. "With eight occurrences in one hundred and twenty-five years counting the current year, Christmas day and Chanukah coincide about once every fifteen to sixteen years. That includes the first day being Christmas day; in other words, the first lighting of the candles is on Christmas Eve. The last time Chanukah's first night was on Christmas night was the same year that Abba and I first worked together. That was 2005. The next time will be in 2054."
"Wow, Ima, we will be old when that happens again!" Anthony responded. "We could be parents and you could be grandparents by then. Tali will be forty! Ima and Abba will be…" He stopped when his mother put her finger on his lips and then smirked at his big sister who chose to ignore her brother's teasing.
Tony smirked at Ziva; she'd started it by giving the kid years to consider in the future. He was about to make a comment when the front door opened. The McGee family entered to join the celebration. Tony handed Tim and John kippahs and Delilah pulled her scarf over her head. The McGees had joined the DiNozzos in at least one night of Chanukah for the past three years.
"Happy Chrismukkah!" Tony had to get the pop-culture TV reference in; he grinned at the family as Ziva rolled her eyes. He was predictable though; he'd managed the reference every year since 2005 that he and Ziva had been in the same country.
Ziva's phone chimed with the five minutes before sundown alarm that she'd set. She motioned for everyone to gather around the menorah on the dining room side table. She began the special first night prayer as the family settled around her.
Tony continued with the blessing of the candles that is said each night. Ziva lit the shammash candle and then used it to light the first night's candle.
As the kids played dreidel games, Ziva and Tony fried the latkes in hot oil and handed off plates of food to Tim and Dee to place on the table with the applesauce.
"Chag urim sameach!" Ziva declared as she and Tony carried their plates to the table to join the others.