As Christmas approaches, I find myself thinking of my home in Newfoundland and one of my favorite traditions there—Tibbs Eve. Celebrated on December 23rd, Tibbs Eve is all about friends coming together to officially start the holidays. People gather for food, drinks, music, and plenty of laughter. Growing up in Newfoundland, there are many traditions I miss when I’m away during the holidays, so this year, I’ve decided to bring Tibbs Eve to Nova Scotia and share it with all the great folks at Spencer House!
Tibbs Eve is like a “friends’ Christmas.” It’s a time to celebrate with friends before the quieter, family-centered days of Christmas take over. Parties are often held in kitchens, sheds, or even on George Street. Personally, I prefer it in a cozy setting, like a shed with a woodstove.
There are a few classic Newfoundland treats that no Tibbs Eve is complete without. The first is Hors d’oeuvres, pronounced “Har Dervs.” While many serve hors d’oeuvres of all kinds everywhere, in Newfoundland, it means one thing. A “Har Derv” is the combination of a quarter of a Vienna sausage, a gherkin pickle and/or a pickled mini onion, and a cube of cheese, all skewered together like a kabob on a toothpick. Another staple is Slush, a rum drink made with frozen lemonade, frozen orange juice, a can of pineapple juice, and a bottle of rum. You mix all the ingredients, pour them into a salt beef bucket, and stick it outside in the snow (or in your freezer) until it turns slushy. To serve, you add ginger ale and a cocktail cherry! Everyone has their own twist on the recipe—mine’s a secret! The rarest but very best Tibbs treat is often only found in sheds far away from “town” (our big city, St. John’s). That treat is moose! Nothing beats walking into a shed party on Tibbs Eve and finding a Dutch oven on the woodstove with a few forks hanging around beside it.
For Spencer House Tibbs, I wasn’t able to get my hands on any moose, as much as I would have loved to share it! I did, however, easily gather the ingredients for Hor Dervs. The real challenge was the slush. I love slush and knew my friends at Spencer House had to try it, but since not many of our members drink, I wanted to make it alcohol-free. Alcohol is what keeps it from freezing solid, so without it, I had no idea how to prevent the slush from becoming a giant block of ice. I asked everyone I knew, but no one had ever considered making it without booze. I was about to give up but decided to try one last thing—I called VOCM’s Open Line.
Open Line is a call-in radio show that’s been on AM radio in Newfoundland for as long as I can remember. While not everyone loves the show, I’m a true fan. As a kid, I listened to their Night Line to fall asleep, and now as an adult, I listen to Open Line on my way to work. This was my first time calling in! I explained my predicament and asked anyone listening to help. I had hardly hung up the phone before we started getting messages and emails with tips and tricks. In the end, the solution was quite simple: we froze the slush in ice cube trays and blended it as needed! I thought I’d need an ice pick, but the Open Line listeners saved the day!
If you’re really lucky on Tibbs Eve, you’ll see some mummers. Mummering is a 300-year-old tradition in Newfoundland where people dress up in the oddest combination of clothes they can think of and go door-to-door visiting friends. They act silly while the hosts try to guess who they are. I remember once, a mummer mixed up all the pieces to my grandmother’s puzzle, and she was furious! Even if you don’t see any mummers, you’ll likely hear Simani’s "The Mummer’s Song"
, probably the best-known song in Newfoundland and Labrador. Its first line rings true: “Don’t feel like Christmas if the mummers aren’t here.”
As I write this on Tibbs Eve in Halifax, I feel a homesick ache in my heart, but it’s outweighed by the love I’ve found at Spencer House. The people here have made sure I don’t miss the things I love, even though I’m far from home. I’m so lucky to have these folks. One of our members, Doug Cooney, was eager to help me throw this party and offered to host with his fiddle back in November! I might not be home, but I have a feeling this Tibbs Eve will stand out, thanks to members like Doug who jumped at the chance to celebrate with me and make this Christmas special.
Whether you’re celebrating Tibbs Eve in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, or beyond, I hope you take time to appreciate the friendships, traditions, and moments that make this time of year so special.
Warm wishes for the holidays,
Brittany