He is a childhood friend who never ages. He might get a little ragged around the seams but his ability to make us smile never grows old. He is made that way, and we love it. That is why we celebrate Teddy Bear Day on September 9.
He is more than a toy. He is a best friend. He doesn’t care about age or gender. He makes us laugh when we are little, and he is a comfortable companion when we move on to adulthood. Teddy is remarkable.
His mythology is interesting too. Back in 1902, President Teddy Roosevelt went hunting in Mississippi. Given the chance to shoot a baby bear, he took a pass feeling it would be unsportsmanlike.
A now-classic caricature in the Washington Post publicized the story. A New York store converted the buzz into revenue by selling stuffed Teddy bears. The venture was successful enough to launch the Ideal Toy and Novelty Company.
Meanwhile, a German toy maker added a new entry to its line of soft dolls. The Steiff Company displayed its stuffed mohair bears at a 1903 toy fair and Teddy went viral.
Over the years, we have embraced him in so many forms. Teddy Bear Day belongs to Winnie the Pooh, Paddington Bear, Fozzie Bear and the entire Berenstain Bear family.
Teddy flew on the Space Shuttle. He has been adorned with diamond eyes by the Steiff Company and formally dressed by Louis Vuitton. He has always been loved by kids and grownups. He will always be one of our favorite furry friends.
Commemorate today by giving your Teddy bear an extra hug. If you lost him somewhere along the way, pick up several new fuzzy buddies. Keep one for yourself, donate the rest to a children’s organization. That’s the kind of celebration that makes everyone smile on Teddy Bear Day.