Today is the day Newfoundlanders and Labradorians traditionally refer to as “Tibb’s Eve”, but how it became associated with December 23 few seem to know.

Dale Jarvis with Heritage NL says Tibb’s Eve was traditionally used in Newfoundland vernacular as a unspecified date that didn’t exist. If you asked someone when they were going to pay you back the money they owed you they might answer “On Tibb’s Eve” meaning that you probably won’t see that money again.

Now, Tibb’s Eve has become the unofficial head-start to the holiday season.

The day before Christmas Eve is also known as “Tipsy Eve” as he first day of the holiday in which you can have a drink.

Jarvis says he’s not sure if there are any other parts of the world with a Tibb’s Eve.