World Vegetarian Day is celebrated every year on 1st October and it initiates the month of October as ‘Vegetarian Awareness Month’, beginning from 1st October to the end of the month, wrapping up on 1st November as World Vegan Day. ‘Vegetarian Awareness Month’ is also referred to as ‘Reverence for life’ month, ‘Month of Vegetarian Food’, and many others.
Here’s a brief history of when and how this day is celebrated.
History
The North American Vegetarian Society (NAVS) announced a global mission to access vegetarianism in the year 1977. The responsibility was later transferred to the International Vegetarian Union in 1978.
Both the organizations worked towards popularizing vegetarian food and motivate people to become vegetarians and march towards the vegan style of living. They not only worked towards their goal in the US but tried to promote it globally.
They focussed on making people aware of the advantages of turning into a vegetarian and all the benefits that vegetables provide for healthy living. They tried to make people change their diet into an all-vegan diet.
Significance
In a world, where most people are non-vegetarians, their vegetarian counterparts are considered to be healthier. Even the doctors are of the opinion that one must try and be a vegetarian. This is because their food source is plant-based which is more sustainable and eco-friendlier. Plant-based foods do not let any harmful substances enter our bodies.
Our eating habits are also responsible for a healthy lifestyle. Non-vegetarian food is said to produce cholesterol and is considered one of the greatest reasons for heart attacks and cancer. A vegetarian diet is highly fibrous too and helps in improving our metabolism. Nuts, fruits, vegetables, and grains are great sources of fiber. They help us control our body weight and roughage content.
World Vegetarian Day promotes the advantages of vegetarianism and veganism and the disadvantages of being non-vegan. It also stands for animal rights. Studies suggest that people who use animal-based products live a shorter life as compared to their vegan counterparts. There is also a lesser chance of infections or flu, related to poultry if one is a vegetarian.
How is World Vegetarian Day Celebrated?
On World Vegetarian Day, special workshops and seminars are conducted worldwide in order to make people aware of a healthy life. They also let people know of the various vegan restaurants and places where they can visit to have a healthy hearty vegan meal.
Various food drives are conducted by local NGOs, where they distribute food to underprivileged communities. Various exhibitions are also conducted at the national level. The whole idea of the day is to spread awareness about vegetarianism and these workshops and events take care of the same.
Vegetarian Awareness Month
World Vegetarian Day which marks ‘Vegetarian Awareness Month’ is celebrated throughout the month of October and ends on 1st November.
Following is a list of dates and days that are celebrated throughout this season:
- October 1 – World Vegetarian Day
- October 2 – World Farm Animals Day (WFAD) or World Day for Farm(ed) Animals
- October 4 – The Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi and World Animal Day
- October 4 – Hug a Non-Meat Eater Day
- October 1–7 – International Vegetarian Week (IVW)
- October 16 – United Nations World Food Day
- November 1 – International Vegan Day, also known as World Vegan Day
- November Month – Vegan Awareness Month or World Vegan Month
World Vegetarian Day Theme
The theme for World Vegetarian Day 2021 has not been declared yet. The theme of 2018 focussed on encouraging the non-vegans to convert into vegans: “Time to contemplate what we are eating” was their theme.
In 2016, the theme selected was “World Meat Free Day”. People from across the world came forward in support of the theme and spared a day without eating animal-based food.
Fun Activities To Do On World Vegetarian Day 2021
- You can bring vegetarian food to your office, school, or anywhere you go and share it with your counterparts, telling them the importance and benefits of being a vegan.
- Enjoy a meatless meal and gorge on the vegetarian menu of a restaurant.
- Go veggie shopping in a farmer’s market and enjoy the organic vegetables.
