World Vegetarian Day is observed annually around the planet on October 1. It is a day of celebration established by the North American Vegetarian Society in 1977 and endorsed by the International Vegetarian Union in 1978, "To promote the joy, compassion and life-enhancing possibilities of vegetarianism." It brings awareness to the ethical, environmental, health, and humanitarian benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle. World Vegetarian Day initiates the month of October as Vegetarian Awareness Month, which ends with November 1, World Vegan Day, as the end of that month of celebration. Vegetarian Awareness Month has been known variously as "Reverence for Life" month, "Month of Vegetarian Food", and more. Additional days Several additional days of vegetarian significance are included in or on the edge of Vegetarian Awareness Month: Month of September - National Fruits & Veggies Month September 24 or 27 – "Hug a Vegan/Vegetarian Day" September 29 – World Heart Day October 1 – World Vegetarian Day October 2 – World Farm Animals Day (WFAD) or World Day for Farm(ed) Animals, birthday of Mohandas K. Gandhi October 4 – The Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi and World Animal Day October 4 – Hug a Non-Meat Eater Day October 1–7 – International Vegetarian Week (IVW) - in several nations across the planet (but especially in Europe), many public educational and celebratory events are organized to promote the vegetarian lifestyle. First full week and additional 'straggler' days (in order to include as many weekends as possible for church, mosque, and temple involvement) – World Week of Prayer for Animals and World Animal Day (always includes The Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi). This may have been initiated by the now-defunct INRA (International Network for Religion and Animals), founded in 1985 by Virginia Bouraquardez (also known as Ginnie Bee), and later led by UCC minister, Rev. Marc Wessels. November 1 – International Vegan Day, also known as World Vegan Day – a vegan holiday celebrated since 1994 to commemorate the creation of The Vegan Society Month of November - Vegan Awareness Month or World Vegan Month. Additional Global Vegetarian Days March 20 – Great American Meatout – developed and sponsored every year by FARM, also known as Farm Animal Rights Movement. World Meat Free Day (June 13, 2016) is sponsored by a gathering of like-minded organisations - Eating Better Alliance, Compassion in World Farming, Friends of the Earth, and a few