The world celebrates ‘World Vegetarian Day’ on October 1, annually, to raise awareness about the benefits of being vegetarian. October 1st is the annual kick-off of Vegetarian Awareness Month.
According to the official site of World Vegetarian Day developed by the North American Vegetarian Society (NAVS), “Vegetarian diets reduce the risk of major killers such as heart disease, stroke and cancer while cutting exposure to food-borne pathogens, provide a viable answer to feeding the world’s hungry through more efficient use of grains and other crops, save animals from suffering in factory-farm conditions and from the pain and terror of slaughter, conserve vital but limited freshwater, fertile topsoil and other precious resources, preserve irreplaceable ecosystems such as rainforests and other wildlife habitats, and decrease greenhouse gases that are accelerating global warming.”
World Vegetarian Day 2021: History
World Vegetarian Day was founded in 1977 by the North American Vegetarian Society (NAVS) and was endorsed by the International Vegetarian Union in 1978.
The North American Vegetarian Society establish October 1 as World Vegetarian Day “to promote the joy, compassion and life-enhancing possibilities of vegetarianism.”
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World Vegetarian Day 2021: Why would someone choose to be a vegetarian?
A Vegetarian is a person who does not consume meat, poultry, fish and sea animals. An ovo-vegetarian includes eggs, a lacto-vegetarian includes dairy products, and an ovo-lacto vegetarian includes both eggs and dairy products. A total vegetarian (vegan) consumes no animal products at all.
According to NAVS, “Vegetarians have existed throughout history and come from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds. People adopt a vegetarian diet for a variety of reasons including concerns about personal health, animals, and the environment. Some people may also be drawn to vegetarianism because of religious and spiritual beliefs or economic considerations.”