Why do Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving in October, and what do they traditionally eat? | Nation & World [Video]

(CNN) — Gobble, gobble, grab your turkey baster, it’s Thanksgiving.

Canadian Thanksgiving, that is.

Though the US version takes place on the fourth Thursday of November, Canada celebrates on the second Monday of October, which this year falls on October 14.

For more insights into this annual great feast, we reached out to Andrew McIntosh, senior subject editor with the Canadian Encyclopedia.

Naturally, we first had to address a question often asked by Americans – why does Canada celebrate Thanksgiving in October instead of November?

Historically, he says, Thanksgiving in Canada has generally been about celebrating the fall harvest and giving thanks for the food it provides before the cold season sets in.

“Winter comes a lot earlier in Canada, so our fall harvest happens earlier, too,” he says.

“Canadian Thanksgiving was set as the second Monday in October, when the weather is still amenable to outdoor activities, in 1957.”

But the country was celebrating long …