THINGS TO DO
Hugged Have you
YOUR TEDDY BEAR LATELY?
by Rona Trachtenberg
Teddy Bears come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. If the words “soft,” “cuddly,” and “snuggly” resonate with you, then you have probably hugged, held, and loved a teddy bear during your lifetime.
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n 2004, I wrote an article for SCI about a Teddy Bear Prayer Project started by Pastor Mack of the Long Plain United Methodist Church in Acushnet. Congregants donated, held, and prayed over many teddy bears before giving them to people in need of God’s love. Betsy Ellis, the current Ministry Chair, confirmed that “The Teddy Bear Ministry is still going strong to this day and continues to bring happiness and comfort to a lot of people locally and internationally.” Police, fire, and medical officials have found that giving a teddy bear to a child during a crisis stabilized and calmed them. In 1997, the non-profit National Association of Police & Lay Charities (NAPLC) started the Teddy Bear Cops program to distribute teddy bears to police, fire, and medical responders throughout the United States. 18
We know why children treasure their teddy bears, but did you know that psychologists believe stuffed animals offer adults a sense of warmth, protection, and friendship, and that snuggling up with a plush toy can be healing. Adults consider the bear as a form of self-care as it holds a sentimental value in our lives. The Times of India reported that February 10 is their country’s annual Teddy Day, in which couples give each other these soft, huggable toys, which “offer comfort, relieve loneliness, cure insomnia, hold memories of a loved one, are perfect for children whose parents won’t allow them to have live pets, and are even considered family members.” According to Wikipedia, “The largest teddy bear measures 63 feet 8 inches tall and was constructed on April 28,
December 2023 | The South Coast Insider
2019 in Mexico and displayed at the local stadium in the city of Xonacatlán. Other interesting facts offered by bearegards.com are: The teddy bear is the official national symbol of Japan. In Europe, Russia, and China, giving a bear without mentioning its name first is considered bad luck. This is why many Russian teddies have names such as Vladimir or Natasha inscribed on them. In December 2009, a new record was set for the most teddy bears sold that month: over 5 million. In 2013, it was reported that the average American spent about $220 on teddy bears. As of 2019, there are more than 500 types of teddy bears on sale at any time. Teddy bears are one of the most popular gifts, selling over 6 billion internationally and 50 million annually in the U.S. alone!
A legend is born
This ubiquitously lovable stuffed companion actually has a rather gruesome origin. This bittersweet story starts in November 1902, when Mississippi
