CONTENTS

• Veganism – what is it?
• In the beginning there was vegetarianism
• From vegetarianism to veganism
• Veganism today

November 1st is World Vegan Day. This plant-based holiday was established in 1994 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Vegan Society (the Vegan Society). However, nothing happens in a vacuum, and even this seemingly very young movement has its own history. Make hummus and carrots; here's a brief history of veganism!

Veganism – what is it?

Contrary to popular belief, veganism isn't just a diet that excludes animal products like dairy, eggs, and meat (be careful, fish and seafood also fall into this category!). Unlike vegetarianism, which essentially involves excluding certain products from the diet, veganism is also a stance of resistance to any form of animal exploitation. If you've ever wondered why vegans don't eat honey, this is it. Living "vegan" also means boycotting any industry that contributes to the suffering of living beings and questioning the right of humans to exploit the animal kingdom for their own benefit. Therefore, cosmetics can also be vegan. And entertainment. And clothing! Examples? Most skincare products contain something of animal origin, like collagen or beeswax. Non-vegan entertainment might include an animal circus or a Spanish bullfight, and when choosing clothing, vegans avoid natural leather, fur, wool, silk... They also won't wear a pearl necklace. Of course, not all vegans are so restrictive—everyone follows their own path. But, but... How did it all begin?

In the beginning there was vegetarianism

Which did we reject first? Egg or chicken? Access to information on this topic is very limited for technical reasons (we're still waiting for someone to build a time machine), and while mentions of excluding meat from the diet date back to ancient times, not so much is known about dairy and honey. We can't be sure that there weren't orthodox animal lovers who rejected scrambled eggs from a hot stone, but it was the assumptions of vegetarianism, not veganism, that accompanied many religions, cults, and philosophical thought for centuries. But more on that in a separate article.

From vegetarianism to veganism

In 1847, the first official vegetarian society was founded in England (The Vegetarian Society). Three years later, Sylvester Graham, the inventor of the famous Graham Wheat Crackers, founded the American Vegetarian Society following the example of his British colleagues. Both organizations continue to function, albeit in slightly different forms. We know for sure that as early as the 19th century, a division into dairy-accepting vegetarians and those who abstained from them existed, although no one attempted to find an appropriate nomenclature until the mid-20th century. In 1944, at the initiative of Donald Watson, The Vegan Society was founded in Great Britain—the first organization for "dairy-free" vegetarians . To resolve an inconvenient naming problem, Watson dropped a few letters from the word "vegetarian ." At this point, proponents of a plant-based diet gained a new identity and adopted the modern name "vegan." The Vegan Society was founded on moral grounds, and its members are committed to the emancipation of animals and an end to their exploitation, as well as supporting the development of the market for alternative products to animal products. To this end, they conduct social and information campaigns, support activists and anyone interested, publish online, and produce a quarterly magazine for members of the association. In addition, the iconic green sunflower symbol, which has existed since 1990, helps vegans around the world distinguish products without animal ingredients without having to spend hours reading labels. It's worth noting, however, that products approved by The Vegan Society are vegan, but not necessarily cruelty-free—these are marked with one of three rabbit logos.

Veganism today

Although the values ​​that guided the founders of the Vegan Society in the mid-20th century were primarily animal welfare, this is no longer so obvious today. What are the reasons why people are switching to a plant-based diet today? The three main motivations cited by participants in the survey conducted by the independent portal Vomad included: animal welfare (the vast majority), health, and environmental issues. Whether the group surveyed by bloggers was representative or whether the correct methodology was chosen is debatable, but it is arguably positive news that we are still primarily driven by empathy.

Yogurts , sweets , plant-based milk-based drinks , and even lard, pâtés, and cold cuts are available in stores. With the right natural supplements, there are no shortages, and vegetarian restaurants have never been more popular. Can we finally say that going vegan is easy? I think so!