World Vegan Day is celebrated on November 1 and it amazes us to see how far this movement has come! We remember when veganism started off as a diet fad and then eventually grew into a lifestyle option. The joys and benefits of veganism are advocated on this dedicated day, highlighting just how easy it is to go for this cruelty-free lifestyle as well as generate awareness on rights for our furry friends. Even though veganism calls for the rejection of all animal-based products, a plant-based diet is the best way to encourage this change; with thousands of delicious vegan recipes or altered versions of meat and dairy dishes posted online.
HISTORY OF WORLD VEGAN DAY
Across the globe, this day is celebrated exuberantly through exhibitions, seminars, restaurant specials, and events. This one day allows countless opportunities for vegans to promote their lifestyle as well as for anyone wishing to adopt it. But this green movement did not just begin with herbivores.
In 1944, two members of ‘The Vegetarian Society UK’ – Donald Watson and Elise Shrigley, were at crossroads with the club. In addition to removing meat from their daily intake, they also avoided products made from or tested on animals. Yet, the society did not recognize their lifestyle as unique, leading the pair to create ‘The Vegan Society.’
In honor of the 50th birthday celebration of The Vegan Society in 1994, UK celebrity and then Chairman of the Vegan Society – Louise Wallis, decided to commemorate November 1 as World Vegan Day. The terms vegan and veganism were also coined by him. While deciding on a date, there was a lot of ambiguity as to which date exactly in 1944 was The Vegan Society was founded. Aware of Halloween and Day of the Dead, Wallis selected the first of November. The rest, as they say, is history.
The movement has been gaining traction lately, with a lot of its popularity owed to prominent celebrities who have committed to veganism over the past few years. Included among these are Ellen DeGeneres, Zac Effron, Ariana Grande, Pamela Anderson, and many more.
The most challenging shift towards veganism has been for food chains. Fortunately, what was once thought of as a finicky diet, is now widely available at restaurants and supermarkets, offering a plethora of plant-based alternatives. Fast-food chains like KFC and Burger King also offer vegan burgers now, so we can all let out a sigh of relief now and still get our fast food fix.
WORLD VEGAN DAY TIMELINE
WORLD VEGAN DAY ACTIVITIES
Try a recipe
Share your favorite recipes on social media or try a new one from your favorite celebrity! Now is the time to experiment and really go beyond the use of just vegetables for crafting vegan recipes. We were particularly impressed by the Vegan Enchiladas recipe by Paul McCartney!
Take a pledge
If you are on the fence about going green, take the 30-day vegan challenge by VeGuide. There is no better time to start than now! Or you can challenge your friends and family and impart your vegan values to them.
Host a vegan party
Gather your friends or workmates for lunch or dinner featuring dishes made completely from plants! Alternatively, you can host your get together at a restaurant that offers a vegan menu.
5 FACTS ABOUT WORLD VEGAN DAY
Girl Power!
World Vegan Day was created by Louise Wallis, who is part-time activist, part-time DJ.
The oldest vegan cookbook
Printed in 1874, the book is titled ‘The Hygeian Home Cookbook,’ written by Russell Thatcher Trall.’
Veganism saves a ton of water
Earthsave.org estimates that it takes about 2500 gallons of water for every pound of beef produced. Wow!
Go green!
About 5% of the global population identifies as Vegetarian. Half of these are Vegan.
Meat-free Mondays
Following a no-meat policy, Los Angeles in the US goes meat-free every Monday since 2012.
