Happy Tibb's Eve!

Originally used to express a day that would never come, (for example "He can sit there until Tibb's Eve if it suits him, I'm not going!") Tibb's Eve, sometimes called "Tips" or "Tispy" Eve, came from the Newfoundlander's desire to start Christmas celebrations early.

In the past Newfoundland was largely Christian, and so Advent was observed across the island. Advent is a period of fasting and lasts for different amounts of time in different areas. For most it's not a full fast, but a time when you put aside luxuries such as alcohol, sweets, smokes, and other types of consumables. Many households would prepare various treats to look forward to at the end of Advent, marked by Christmas Day. These things would include fruit cakes, often soaked in rum, and home brewed alcoholic beverages.

Not wanting to wait until Christmas Day to start celebrating, Newfoundlanders moved celebrations to Christmas Eve, and finally to Tibb's Eve. Why wait to enjoy good food, good drink, and good people?

Though it's not widely standardised across Newfoundland Labrador, Tibb's Eve does some attention, though sadly marked by most as simply the second last day to shop.

Have a fantastic Tibb's Eve everyone!

I guess a good place to celebrate it in St. John's would be one of the many establishments on George Street?

Happy Tibb's Eve to you as well, Mona, with some good friends, fine drinks, and perhaps some fine seacláid.

Interesting, I wonder the etymology?
https://www.etymonline.com/word/tipsy

Camerinvs, George St. is certainly a nice spot, but in my opinion the best place to go is right to your favourite kitchen. The ideal place for talking about absolutely nothing in particular. That's what Tibb's Eve is all about!

redsmithstudios you've opened Pandora's Box. I can talk about language all day, every day. I actually considered discussing it in my original post but feared the wall of text I'd create.

One of my sources here matches this: https://www.etymonline.com/word/Tib

And my sources here that match both definitions described here. One suggests it was a sly way of talking about sex without scandalising the children. And then another references Saint Tibb, who doesn't actually exist except in colloquial terms. St. Tibb is a direct reference to Judgement Day. I believe this is how it became used to reference "a day that will never come", as mentioned above.

I feel really sure that "tipsy", as you posted, and "Tibbs" come from the same root.