Tibb's Eve

The wild festivity started sometime around the mid-20th century as the first night during Advent when it was appropriate to have a drink. Advent was a sober, religious time of year and traditionally people would not drink alcohol until Christmas Day at the earliest. Tibb's Eve emerged as an excuse to imbibe two days earlier. The tradition of celebrating Tibb's Eve may be similar to 19th century workers taking Saint Monday off from work.[2]

The use of Tibb's Eve, Tip's Eve, Tipp's Eve, or Tipsy Eve are regional variations used throughout Newfoundland and Labrador to describe the same December 23rd celebration.

The origin of Tibb's Eve name is attributed to the word tib[b], which is an archaic slang for a sexually promiscuous woman. In 17th century English plays Tibb was a common character of a loose-moraled woman used for comic relief. Referring to Saint Tibb was a joke that would go over the head of children who believed her to be a real saint. Similarly, Tibb's Eve was a "non-time" like "the twelfth of never", February 30th or "when two Mondays fall together."[2]

The origin of Tip's Eve, Tipp's Eve and Tipsy Eve names are attributed to the word tipple, which is a verb meaning to drink intoxicating liquor, especially habitually or to some excess.