| Where: | Gittisham, Devon in village centre |
| When: | Shrove Tuesday |
| Time: | 4pm onwards |
Tip Toeing is the name given to a house-visiting custom held every Shrove Tuesday in the village of Gittisham in Devon. After a legendary tea provided by the local WI, the children of the village call at houses chanting “Tip Tip Toe, Tip Tip Toe, Please for a Penny and then we’ll go!” and once their money is collected they move on to the next house. The cash is collected in specially made antique wooden money boxes and is divided among the children at the end. It’s been a tradition in Gittisham for generations and some believe its origins may lie in a boundary marking custom but no-one knows for sure.
Helpful Hints
Though this event is run for children it isn’t connected to school so always takes place on Shrove Tuesday even when that is during the half term holiday. It’s very much a small community event so don’t expect a crowd or a big fuss.
In 2025 Shrove Tuesday falls on 4th March.
Exact timing for this event is tricky – it depends how quickly the children wolf down their tea! When we visited in 2018, the tea ended at around 5 o’clock, and the Tip Toeing following it lasted until about 6.15.
Click here for the village website: http://gittisham.org.uk
and here: https://www.facebook.com/people/Hayne-Farm-Community-Gittisham-Honiton/100069557051338/
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