Have you hugged 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.

In 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.

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, 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 Governor Andrew H. Longino invited President Theodore Roosevelt to go on a bear hunting trip. When everyone but Roosevelt had bagged an animal, Roosevelt’s people cornered, clubbed, and tied a 235-lb American black bear to a willow tree and suggested that Roosevelt now shoot it. The president refused, stating that it was “unsportsmanlike.” Instead, he instructed that the bear be put out of its misery.

This well-known restaurant and banquet facility overlooking Laurel Lake usually packs them in for a large buf fet on Thanksgiving Day The menu typically includes traditional turkey dinner with Paul’s butternut squash, prime rib, ham, and much more The restaurant has been of fering dine-in and takeout, including its locally famous corned beef and cabbage, for 50 years . Here’s a protip: if you can’t wait until Thanksgiving for a roast turkey dinner, you don’t have to –it ’s on the regular menu.

Times were different back then, and a President going bear hunting was considered a “politically correct” activity. Political cartoonist Clifford Berryman illustrated the unfortunate incident in the November 16, 1902 issue of The Washington Post.

This favorite restaurant and function facility sits on the The cartoon caught the attention of Brooklyn candy store owners Rose and Morris Michtom, who wanted to make a stuffed bear toy and name it after Theodore Roosevelt. So, they wrote to the President, got his permission, and made the small bear cub, which they put in their candy shop window at 404 Tompkins Avenue in Brooklyn with a sign “Teddy’s Bear.” The toys were such a success that Michtom founded the Ideal Novelty & Toy Company (which later produced the Rubik’s Cube).

After seeing that same cartoon, Richard Steiff designed and produced a stuffed teddy bear made of mohair at his Aunt Margarete’s factory in Germany. He called this first jointed creation 55 PB, which stood for 55 cm standing; P = plush and B = movable and he exhibited it at the Leipzig Toy Fair in March 1903.

Fast-forward a century and you can now purchase a teddy bear gift right off the shelf, at any local department store. However, if that convenience isn’t personalized enough for you, then you can let your fingers do the selecting at one of the create-ityourself websites.

In 1981, John Sortino wanted to make his son a teddy bear that would last a lifetime. So, he crafted the first-ever Bearcho in his garage. His son enjoyed his new furry friend so much that John began selling his creations from a cart on Church Street in downtown Burlington, Vermont. That is when the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory came into being. Today, their website offers a lifetime guarantee where Dr. Pam, a 25-year expert seamstress with the company, will “triage and repair your creation in her Bear Hospital, no matter what happens.”

In 1997, Maxine Clark opened the first interactive workshop, at the St. Louis Galleria Mall, Missouri, where kids could personalize their own furry friend. She wanted them to “build memories, one bear at a time.” In the past 26 years, Ms. Clark’s teddy bears have positively impacted millions of hearts and her franchise boasts over 400 locations worldwide. You can even customize your bear with sounds and scents. Their Merry Mission Advent Calendar is a big Christmas seller, as it comes with several plush animals and other surprises behind each of its 25 doors.

In the end, our 26th President did more for the future of live bears and wildlife than any other elected official.  Theordore Roosevelt created the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the National Foundation for the Preservation of Fur-Bearing Animals (now known as The Humane Society). He established 150 national forests, 51 federal bird reserves, five national parks, and four national game preserves. He protected approximately 230 million acres of public land during his presidency.

In 1978, Congress passed legislation designating December 26 as Recordable Teddy Bear Day in honor of this influential animal advocate.

So, go find your childhood teddy bear and give it a big holiday hug!