National Bring Your Teddy Bear to School Day – October 12, 2022, history, significance
National Bring Your Teddy Bear to School Day takes place on the second Wednesday of October and this year, that falls on October 12. Whenever we think of teddy bears, we think of our nighttime buddy and the one that brings us peace and comfort.
Whether you’re a child, a teen, or even an adult, you’ll find that teddy bears just bring the warmth and happiness anyone should feel. They come in all shapes and sizes and just do the trick to delight anyone’s day. With National Bring Your Teddy Bear to School Day, you can encourage and uplift those around you. You get to remind people that everyone deserves to be comforted.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL BRING YOUR TEDDY BEAR TO SCHOOL DAY
The Teddy Bear was named after the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. In November of 1902, Roosevelt, who was a passionate hunter, went on a hunting trip in Mississippi. Amongst those who accompanied him were other hunters, reporters, a hunting guide, and a few hunting dogs.
They noticed they were on the trail of a black bear. A few days came by and Roosevelt went back to the campsite while the others kept searching for the bear. They found the bear and called for Roosevelt to come. Seeing the bear tied to a tree and cornered by the dogs, he refused to shoot it. However, to put the bear out of its misery and injury, he has the bear die in a less gruesome way.
The event and incident paved the way for several caricatures and cartoons to come about.
For instance, a cartoon titled “Drawing the Line in Mississippi,” which showed Roosevelt refusing to shoot the bear, was created and drawn by Clifford Berryman. This appeared in the “Washington Post” and made even more noise. Morris and Rose Michtom, candy shop owners, were inspired to make the first teddy bear, which was originally called ‘Teddy’s Bear.’
They asked the permission of Roosevelt himself to allow the name for mass production. They founded the toy company, Ideal Toy Company, where they produced commercial teddy bears for everyone to buy. While this was happening, Richard Steiff created a stuffed teddy bear, which also became very popular.
NATIONAL BRING YOUR TEDDY BEAR TO SCHOOL DAY TIMELINE
1902
The Sighting of a Black Bear
Theodore Roosevelt refuses to shoot a black bear down.
1902
Creating Headlines
On November 16, Clifford Berryman publishes a cartoon for the Washington Post.
1903
The Creation of a Multimillion-Dollar Business
The Ideal Toy Company is born and produces commercial teddy bears.
1963
Celebrating 60 Years of Teddy
Benjamin Michtom, son of Morris and president of the company, decides to celebrate the Teddy Bear’s 60th birthday.
NATIONAL BRING YOUR TEDDY BEAR TO SCHOOL DAY ACTIVITIES
Bring a teddy bear to your workplace
Whether you work in the office, at home, or even in any other place, celebrate this day the way it should be and bring your teddy bear. It may be stashed somewhere in your drawer and would just bring everyone joy when they see it.
Host a sleepover
Host a sleepover with your friends and relatives, but this time make sure to have your teddy bears tucked in your beds. You can even have your friends bring their teddy bears. The more, the merrier.
Build your teddy bear
Bring out your creative juices and create your teddy bear! It can be done in so many ways. There is probably a D.I.Y video and instruction on the internet that you can try for yourself.
5 FACTS ABOUT TEDDY BEARS
It’s celebrated on the week of Valentine’s
February 10 is celebrated as Teddy Day as well.
Winnie-the-Pooh is based on a real bear
A black bear cub named Winnipeg was found by a hunter during World War I.
There’s a term for loving teddy bears
A person who loves collecting teddy bears is called an ‘arctophile.’
They come in all shapes and sizes
The largest teddy bear in the world is 19.41 meters in height.
A teddy bear has reached space
A teddy bear with the name Magellan T. Bear was sent to space in 1955.
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL BRING YOUR TEDDY BEAR TO SCHOOL DAY
The story is so interesting
The story of how the teddy bear came to be is so random and interesting. It’s a fun fact to discover and share with friends as well.
They are our childhood friends
Whatever size or material they’re made out of, they never cease to make us smile. They give us comfort in times of difficulty and sadness.
There are so many famous bears
They are part of many great stories! Because of the first teddy bear, they’ve become so popular that characters have been made of teddy bears in stories, movies, and the like. Some known teddy bears are Paddington Bear, Care Bears, Winnie-the-Pooh Bear, Yogi Bear, and more.
