The month of October is Vegetarian Awareness Month, and we’re rolling out the green carpet to celebrate an ecologically friendly lifestyle. This month of awareness begins October first with World Vegetarian Day, and culminates November first with World Vegan Day, including the celebration of several related holidays in between like World Farm Animals Day (October 2nd) and Hug a Non-Meat Eater Day (October 4th).
The holiday was first established in 1977 by the North American Vegetarian Society and by the following year had the support of the International Vegetarian Union. During this month, many vegetarian and vegan groups around the world work to educate and empower their local communities, spreading the ideals of compassion, animal rights, environmentally sound practices, and healthier lifestyle through vegetarianism. The Monday Campaigners Inc and the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have even begun an international initiative known as “Meatless Monday,” which encourages non-vegetarians to abstain from meat eating on Mondays in an effort to boost their health and reduce their carbon footprint. Other events around the US include the World Veg Festival in San Francisco, free vegetarian meals and appetizers offered at hundreds of vegetarian restaurants, and Vegetarian Summerfest held every year in the Northeast.
Even for those who aren’t vegetarian, the month of October is a great time to support the ethics, compassion, and environmental consciousness that walk hand in hand with a meat free lifestyle. Some fun ways to join the initiative in your own community include:
Hosting a meat free dinner party
Serving a meatless meal at your local homeless shelter
Planting a community vegetable garden
Wearing earth friendly clothing, accessories, and jewelry
Jewelry and accessories that are made of natural materials like stone, or leather alternatives like faux leather, are a great option if you’re looking for items that are more ecologically sound.
Whether or not you eat meat, celebrating Vegetarian Awareness Month is just naturally cool.
