Thanksgiving Day is observed in Canada on the second Monday in October, celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year. The holiday's origins date back to 1578 when Martin Frobisher, during his expedition in search of the Northwest Passage, organized a feast for the surviving crew members after facing numerous challenges at sea. It was officially proclaimed a national holiday by the Parliament of Canada on January 31, 1957, although it had been celebrated in various forms since the 19th century. Traditional customs include a special dinner featuring roasted turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, sweet corn, vegetables, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. The date has changed multiple times since Thanksgiving was first declared a national holiday in 1879, but it has remained fixed as the second Monday in October since 1957.