One of the things I love about British Columbia is that everyone comes from somewhere different, either via the continental land bridge of Beringia thousands of years ago or via the YVR arrival terminal on Tuesday mornings.

Last year, BC received the second highest number of immigrants to Canada: 66,268 people (Ontario came first with 199,297 and Nunavut last with 45).

These newcomers have a lot to deal with: the language barrier, finding affordable housing, finding work, adjusting to the cold, and understanding our undoubtedly bizarre holiday traditions.

Which brings me to this weekend’s holiday in Davesplaining.

Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October, after the fall harvest.

It is sometimes called “Canadian Thanksgiving” to distinguish it from the American holiday of the same name, held in late November, when travel is more icy and dangerous, to reduce gun violence.

Thanksgiving has been an official Canadian holiday since 1879 and is celebrated in every province, including Quebec, where it is called Jour de l’Action de grâce, which roughly translates to ‘Thanksgiving’ in French.

According to some historians, the first celebration of Thanksgiving in North America took place in 1579, after the safe landing of Martin Frobisher’s fleet in Newfoundland. I should probably mention that while there were Inuit people around, the Pilgrims and Native American Indians from the Pocahantas cartoon were not.

Frobisher was an English privateer looking for the Northwest Passage, which did not exist because climate change had not yet melted the poles. He tried and failed a total of three times, so he was quite tired and hungry. As you probably know, there’s nothing like leftover turkey for a pick-me-up.

Other historians, especially those who advise on Disney films, stick to the Pilgrim version of North America’s first Thanksgiving in 1623.

This is the version where the Puritans wear somber black clothing and silver buckles on their shoes, which takes animators less time to draw, and the Wampanoag people are generous with their turkeys and, unfortunately as it turned out for them, their entire future .

If you’re a newcomer to Canada – say you’re fleeing next month’s American apocalypse – the food we traditionally serve at the Thanksgiving meal starts with a delicious roast turkey stuffed with stuffing, which usually consists of wet bread, salt and other seasonings, such as more salt.

The specific recipe is often a closely guarded family secret and sometimes includes raisins or walnuts. If you are unfortunate enough to be with one of those families, call the police immediately.

The turkey comes with an abdominal exercise of mashed potatoes with gravy, cranberry sauce, various autumn vegetables and Brussels sprouts, which no one eats traditionally and also because of the taste.

Due to the usual amount of food on offer, please wear sweatpants and shoes without laces.

The Thanksgiving meal traditionally ends with some sort of pumpkin dessert, such as just apple pie, instead of delicious apple pie you get pumpkin pie.

I should probably mention that not liking the taste of pumpkin is illegal in British Columbia, where we produce more than 10.5 million pounds of squash and pumpkins every year.

This is also about how much weight we will vow to lose after eating the traditional Thanksgiving meal.

Keen-eyed readers will have noticed that I haven’t offered a vegan Thanksgiving alternative to roast turkey, gravy, etc. This is only because, technically, the essence of “Thanksgiving” is “thanksgiving,” which just doesn’t come up. think of a plate of seaweed and chia seeds.

Which brings me to the longstanding Thanksgiving tradition of telling everyone at the table what you are most grateful for.

Just like last year, Aunt Carol is going to suggest that we all share, rather than passing around the glazed carrots, which are currently cooling at her elbow.

She’ll start out, grateful for her “dear cats, especially Mr. Wigglesworth, a champion mouse and terrified of the Mayor of Victoria,” and then start crying because Carol got into the Gewurztraminer early, also like last year.

The tradition of sharing gratitude often surprises me and requires quick thinking, not because I don’t have much to be grateful for, but because I’m usually so far down the line that the good things – family, health, avoiding the jail time after that little incident at Costco – is already taken.

If this ever happens to you, here are a few emergency response articles you can pull out of your back pocket to share:

• The gravity on our planet is just right to keep things down, but not squashed.

• Maple syrup tastes great on pancakes, no matter how old you get.

• I don’t have monkeypox yet.

• What a thorough job the electric toothbrush does every morning.

• Netflix.

Another important Thanksgiving tradition involves the sport of Canadian Football, which is not actually football, but does allow washed-up American Football players to continue damaging their knees for a few years.

Regardless, the Canadian Football League usually hosts a nationally televised doubleheader this weekend, the Thanksgiving Day Classic.

Some Canadians take the CFL very seriously. When asked who you think will win the big game, I suggest you play it safe and bridge the language barrier. Just smile and say ‘Wayne Gretzky.’

This is hilarious because Wayne Gretzky is actually a famous Canadian ice hockey player.

Like everyone you meet at Thanksgiving this year, Wayne Gretzky’s ancestors came to Canada from somewhere else. It worked out pretty well for that immigrant family.

We still call him The Great One.