1st of October- World Vegetarian Day

Each year, October 1, the world community celebrates World Vegetarian Day, founded by the North American Vegetarian Society (NAVS) in 1977 and a year later supported by the International Vegetarian Union (IVU).

This annual holiday is designed to raise awareness among the general public about the benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle, both from the side of health and the environment, as well as from an ethical point of view, and also aims to promote various aspects of vegetarianism.

Vegetarianism (English vegetarian, from late Latin vegetabilis - vegetable) is a nutrition system that excludes animal products from food. Like all traditions, it has its own, moreover, a long history. It is believed that vegetarianism originated in Asian countries in ancient times, and it is based on the religious traditions of Buddhism and Hinduism. Vegetarianism appeared in Europe only at the beginning of the 19th century, and specifically in England, where the Buddhist teachings that the colonialists met in India contributed to the widespread dissemination of this “hobby”. By the way, in England, the first society of the same name was founded (in 1847), and today it is the country where the largest number of supporters of a vegetarian diet live (about 6% of the total population). It should also be noted that the economic crisis in Europe made a contribution to the development of this doctrine, which then led to a rise in the price of a significant part of food products.

Over the years, vegetarianism spread throughout the world, it developed, slightly transformed, and its most ardent fans adhered to an increasingly strict "diet", refusing not only meat but also other animal products. And today, vegetarianism does not lose its popularity. Although the reasons why people choose this lifestyle are different. Someone - in an attempt to keep up with fashion, someone - for the sake of losing weight, someone - to "stand out from the crowd", someone - for the sake of health, and someone - for ethical and religious-spiritual reasons. But not everything remains in it, because vegetarianism is still not a diet or fashion, but rather a lifestyle and an appropriate worldview.

Traditionally, among the most popular events and events of Vegetarian Day, which are held in different countries, are flash mobs urging you not to kill animals for food; culinary events (for example, many restaurants on this day include only vegetarian dishes on the menu, and shops offer discounts on vegetables and fruits); discussions on vegetarianism, workshops and tastings of culinary vegetarian masterpieces, etc. By the way, in Thailand and China at this time there are many famous vegetarian festivals.

Are you a vegetarian? If you are, this is your day, and VeronikaLove congratulates you on this holiday!