World Vegan Day

World Vegan Day is an annual observance held on 1 November by vegans and vegan organisations around the world. It was established in 1994 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Vegan Society in the United Kingdom and the coining of the word “vegan”. The day is used to celebrate veganism, to raise awareness of its ethical, environmental and health aspects, and to encourage people to try vegan food.

History

The Vegan Society was founded in November 1944 by Donald Watson, Elsie Shrigley and a small group of non-dairy vegetarians (see history of veganism). The exact date of the society’s founding meeting is not definitively recorded, and 1 November was chosen as the date for the commemoration.

In 1994, Louise Wallis, who was then chair of the Vegan Society, proposed marking the society’s 50th anniversary with an annual World Vegan Day. The event has been held every year since. Over time, it has been adopted by vegan groups, businesses and individuals in many countries, and is not organised by any single body.

The month of November is also promoted by some organisations as World Vegan Month, extending the activities of World Vegan Day across several weeks. World Vegan Day is distinct from World Vegetarian Day, which is observed on 1 October.

Activities

World Vegan Day is marked in a variety of ways, including:

• Food events such as vegan festivals, markets, potlucks and cookery demonstrations.
• Restaurant and retail promotions, with businesses offering special vegan menus, discounts or product launches.
• Outreach and education, including information stalls, talks, film screenings and free food samples.
• Social media campaigns, in which individuals share recipes, personal stories and reasons for being vegan.
• Pledges and challenges, encouraging people to try vegan eating for a day, a week or a month, similar in spirit to veganuary.
• Fundraising, including for vegan charities and animal sanctuaries.

Themes

The themes promoted on World Vegan Day reflect the main motivations for veganism:

1. Animals – highlighting objections to factory farming, the dairy industry and the egg industry, and arguments relating to ethical veganism and speciesism.
2. Environment – drawing attention to the environmental impact of animal agriculture and the role of diet in veganism and climate change.
3. Health – promoting well-planned plant-based diets and nutritional information, such as the need for a reliable source of vitamin B12.
4. Accessibility – showing that vegan food can be affordable and familiar (see vegan on a budget and meal planning).

The Vegan Society and other organisations sometimes choose a specific theme or campaign focus for each year.

Significance

World Vegan Day is one of several dates in the vegan calendar that have helped raise the public profile of veganism. Alongside the growth of campaigns such as Veganuary in the 2010s, it has provided an occasion for media coverage, product launches and community events. Because the day marks the anniversary of the founding of the Vegan Society, it also serves as a point of reflection on the history of the movement, from a small group of founders in 1944 to a global community.

Related observances

Other dates associated with veganism and animal advocacy include:

See also

• History of Veganism
• Veganuary
• How to Go Vegan