#The Way of the Grizzly by Douglas Van Howd

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Teddy Day

Teddy Day is an annual event held every February 10. We are ecstatic to be celebrating love and companionship via one fluffy friend that is always there no matter what — Teddies! Teddy bears, as the name implies, are stuffed toys often made to resemble a bear, and bears are known for their hugs, although fatal. But ours is one of love which is what this day is all about.

History of Teddy Day

Stuffed toys have been children’s best toys since ancient times. They are soft, squishy, and a good companion for all. In the Roman Empire, the children of the rich had wooden carved toys in the shape of animals and humans they played with, and it was such that only the children of the rich could afford and get them. So the children of the low class and peasants developed ragdolls made from clothes and straws, and over the years, they evolved into stuffed toys as we know them in the world today.

Teddy bears are soft fluffy toys in the shape of bears that evoke feelings of love and warmth when we hold and hug them. They come in different sizes; small, medium, large, and even plus size. Like all other stuffed toys, Teddy bears have evolved from being toys for children to being toys for everyone, including men and women. So during the cold, lonely nights and when we’re feeling emotionally down or happy, teddy bears serve as a great cuddle companion.

Teddy bears got their name in 1902 after President Theodore Roosevelt in a series of events that happened when he went on a hunting trip. During hunting, they happened upon a bear, and President Roosevelt refused to shoot it. The story soon spread all over, and the first stuffed bears were developed by toymakers Morris Michtom in the U.S, and Richard Steiff in Germany, and they were named ‘Teddy bears,’ after President Roosevelt’s pet name.

Teddy Day is a time to show love to our special persons and significant others by gifting them teddy bears. It shows how special they are to us and the warm and lovable feelings they bring to us, just like teddies.

Teddy Day timeline

1880 First Stuffed Toy

The first modern stuffed toy in the shape of an elephant is sold as a pincushion by the German Steiff Company.

1902 The Inception of Teddy Bears

After the incident with President Roosevelt where he refused to shoot a bear on a hunting trip, stuffed teddy bears are developed and become popular.

1906 Bear Book

A book on bears is written by Seymour Eaton, a children’s books series called “The Roosevelt Bears.”

1984 Teddy Museum

The first Teddy Bear Museum is set up in England.

Teddy Day FAQs

Why are Teddies so comforting?

Their fluffiness and softness possess a calming ability that eases the mind and emotions. Research has found that cuddling them releases oxytocin which calms the body.

At what age should a child stop sleeping with Teddies?

There is no specific age limit to sleeping with or having teddies. More than just being toys, they are also tools of convenience.

Can a baby sleep with a teddy?

It had been advised not to put stuffed toys beside children below 12 months because of the risks of death by strangulation or suffocation.

Teddy Day Activities

Gift a Teddy

Buy a Teddy

Become a Teddy

How can you observe Teddy Day without a Teddy? Gift your special someone a teddy bear and tell them how much you love them.

Other than giving teddies to your special someone, this is also a good time to get one for yourself. Visit your favorite stores and get yourself a fluffy teddy companion on this day.

Your partner might have lots of teddies already, putting you at a fix, but not to worry. Instead, rent a teddy bear costume to entertain your partner and make their day.

5 Important Facts About Teddies

Winnie the Pooh

Spacefarer bear

Teddy Magazine

Teddy Guinness record

World biggest Teddy

The most famous teddy in the world, Winnie the Pooh, created by author A. A Milne is named after a female bear named Winnipeg in the London zoo he frequented with his son.

The first teddy bear to journey into space is named Magellan T. Bear, which joined the NASA shuttle mission in 1995.

There is a magazine dedicated to teddy bears that has more than 40,000 subscribers called “Teddy Bears and Friends.”

The largest teddy bear collection in the world is 20,367, owned by Istvánné Arnóczki in Hungary on April 27, 2019.

The biggest Teddy bear in the world is located in Estado de Mexico, at 63 feet and eight inches.

Why We Love Teddy Day

Teddies are lovable toys

Helps on cold lonely nights

Teddies can be therapeutic

The fluffiness and cute appearance of teddy bears make us easily fall in love with them. Many manufacturers make them have wide beautiful eyes and innocent-like looks, which warms the heart and sends warm feelings always.

Some nights can be very terrible without a cuddle companion nearby. Teddies are one cuddle companions we can always count on to help us through the cold, lonely nights.

Research has found that cuddling a Teddy bear can be calming. Police, medical and fire officials reiterate the fact that giving a child a teddy during a crisis has calming effects on them.

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National Hug a Bear Day

Cuddle up with your favorite teddy, relive childhood memories and throw a picnic for the whole family and your stuffed companions on Hug A Bear Day. 

 Although it might be confusing, Hug a Bear Day isn’t about the big fuzzy beasts that roam the forests munching on nuts and berries and once a year or so busting out the fishing skills to scoop up salmon from the teeming rivers! Hugging one of those could, in fact, be very dangerous and lead to a very bad day.

This day is, instead, about our favorite fuzzy knights of Yore, sometimes called by the name “Teddy”. They are big and fuzzy and warm, they watch over children (and, perhaps, some adults) at night while keeping the monsters in the closet and under the bed at bay.

For many, a cuddly bear is often the first gift a child is ever given. Long afterward, many people tend to carry them forward into their adult lives as ‘memoirs’ of the past. But everyone knows the real reason people still have them is that their lives seem a little better, and a little saner, with those childhood protectors, still working on their behalf.

It’s time to enjoy Hug a Bear Day!

History of Hug a Bear Day

The history of stuffed animals goes back a long way. In fact, some archaeological evidence suggests that the tradition of having something soft to play with and hug goes as far as Ancient Egypt.

What is known for certain is that plush toys as they are now known, first started hitting the scene in the 1830s. Of course, the most iconic of all of them, the Teddy Bear, came about in 1902. The classic story goes that the American President at the time, Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt, was hunting and refused to shoot a baby bear that he and his hunting companions came across. His companions thought him a bit “soft” and so the name of the Teddy Bear was coined.

Since that day, the Teddy Bear has stood as the childhood toy that, in many cultures, is given to almost every child. The term “Teddy” was even derived from the name of this self-same president. There are now millions of Teddy Bears produced every year, in a rainbow of styles and colors. No matter what the imagination may produce, there is likely to be a Teddy Bear that meets the idea of the perfect fuzzy protector!

How to Celebrate Hug a Bear Day

Hug A Bear!

Those who have a bear certainly know what to do. And those who don’t have a bear should probably run out right away and get a bear to hug! If absolutely necessary, borrow or bear nap a snuggly bear belonging to a friend (children are often a good source!) and give it a little cuddle.

Buy a Bear to Hug

Those who are in the market for a brand new bear will likely find an internet search offers a world of options. But the best possible option is to head out to a Build-A-Bear workshop and create your very own fuzzy defender. They even have clothes and accessories that will let children and adults bring out the very best friend the imagination can create. For even more fun, choose a sound box that goes inside, with an adorable recorded message.

Make Some Teddy Bear Treats

Hug a Bear Day can certainly be enjoyed by eating some bears too. Of course, not the stuffed ones, but the food-shaped ones. Whether purchasing Teddy Grahams, gummy bears, or other teddy bear-shaped snacks from the grocery store or making some at home, this is a fun day to get creative.

Try out these ideas for bear-themed recipes or get creative with what can be used in the kitchen to promote the Teddy Bear theme:

Teddy Bear Rice Krispie Treats. Make the normal recipe or Rice Krispie treats but shape them into bears using one large circle and three small ones. The large circle is the face and the small ones can be placed as ears and a snout. Add chocolate chips for the eyes and a nose.

Chocolate Bear Paws Candy. Melt chewy caramel candies with butter, whipping cream, and chopped cashews. Cool slightly and place on a pan in a “paw” shape. Freeze, then dip into melted chocolate, quickly adding three cashews on one side to create toes or claws.

Teddy Bear French Toast. Make normal pieces of french toast, then add banana slices for ears and a snout, topping it off with raisins for eyes and a nose. For an added touch, top with a bit of honey instead of using maple syrup!

Teddy Bear Sandwiches. Have a picnic and make it much more fun with these bear-shaped sandwiches. Simply cut sandwich bread into large circles (a normal glass or canning jar works), then use the scraps to cut three smaller circles. Spread hummus on the bread, then stick two small bread circles at the top for ears and top with a slice of cucumber. Add a top to the sandwich, then create the face with a bread circle, another cucumber slice and some black olives. Delicious and fun!

Host a Hug a Bear Party

You can also get together with your friends and bring out all your favorite old Teddy Bears. Admit what your favorite plush animal is and share it with those who still love theirs. Children would absolutely love to join in on a tea party with their friends, where the guests of honor are their favorite Teddy Bears!

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