Mariano Cordeiro is probably as frozen as the turkey he will get this morning from Honest Ed's.

He lined up at 8:30 a.m. yesterday at Honest Ed's Emporium to be first in line for when the store starts handing out 1,200 free turkeys and fruit cakes at 10 a.m. today.

This is a tradition the late Ed Mirvish, the man known and loved by Torontonians as Honest Ed, started 22 years ago.

"This is the second time I have been first in line. I was first last year and I have been coming for the past 20 years. I do it every year and I don't want to stop," said Cordeiro, who braved -5C temperatures last night.

Every year Cordeiro donates his turkey to a charity.

"I'm going to give it to St. Vincent de Paul because I am grateful for the help they have given me when I had some problems," he said.

"But the fruit cake, I'm eating that. I love fruit cake."

When Cordeiro needs a bathroom break he leaves his belongings and goes to a nearby coffee shop.

"I have never had anything go missing. Soon there will be more people. I know who the first 10 will be. It is the same every year. We see each other once a year in line and we get to catch up," Cordeiro said.

Years ago, Cordeiro used to work at the Royal York coffee shop where Mirvish would have a Sunday meeting with his managers.

"He always ordered rye toast and crisp bacon," he said. "I told David Mirvish (Ed's son) that last year when I met him. Last year they gave me four tickets to The Sound of Music (at the Princess of Wales Theatre, owned by the Mirvish family)."

Elicia MacKenzie, who plays Maria, and the children cast members from The Sound of Music will help give away 10,000 pounds of turkey and 1,200 fruit cakes.

"Ed started this in 1987 and it will be continued this year by his son David. The event has become an annual tradition in the City of Toronto," said Russell Lazar, spokesman for Honest Ed's.

KEVIN.CONNOR@SUNMEDIA.CA