Teddy Day is celebrated every year on February 10 during the intense week of Valentine’s Day. The celebration of all things cute, on this day a stuffed animal is given to the closest loved ones as a gesture of affection, but did you know the story behind the cuddly teddy bear?
The teddy bear was invented in honor of the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, whose other name is Teddy. Makes sense?
Let’s discover the original story of the teddy bear here!
Who was Theodore Roosevelt?
- Theodore Roosevelt, popularly known as Teddy, was the 26th president of the United States in 1901.
- Teddy was a naturalist and nature lover; he loved exploring the natural world.
- He protected more than 200 million acres of public lands, where he established the U.S. Forest Service, as well as five national parks during his presidency.
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Source: Wikipedia
But what does this have to do with teddy bears? Let’s learn more!
Teddy Bear: The Original Story
- In 1902, Teddy Roosevelt accepted a hunting invitation from Mississippi Governor Andrew Longino, and they continued with their guide named Holt Collier, who knew the land well.
- Collier was determined to help an anxious Roosevelt find a black bear, so on the second day of his excursion, Collier found one.
- Collier decided to tie the bear for Roosevelt, however, when Roosevelt saw this, he was amazed.
- Roosevelt declared his disgust at the scene and said such an act would be unsportsmanlike.
- This news of Roosevelt’s act of compassion spread like wildfire throughout the United States.
- Immediately afterward, Washington Post cartoonist Clifford Berryman produced the sensational cartoon that heads this blog explaining the event.
Source: Wikipedia
Teddy Bear: Training and Fame
Like everyone else, a couple from Brooklyn, New York, Rose and Morris Michtom were able to catch a glimpse of the event after the incident was nationally publicized in an editorial cartoon.
The couple owned a penny candy store and decided they would make a stuffed animal and display it in the window to honor the president and his compassionate act.
They cut some pieces of fabric, sewed some buttonholes and displayed them in their window.
The stuffed animal was called Teddy’s Bear. It was an overnight success! People liked it so much that the Mitchtoms had to ask if they could use Roosevelt’s name for the bear and Roosevelt agreed.
Now, instead of selling candy, the couple decided to found Ideal Toy Company, which produced a multi-generational love for teddy bears.
The first teddy bear
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- The first to play with the teddy bear were Roosevelt’s children.
- It is said that as a gift the Michtoms gave the first bear to Kermit Roosevelt, who was thirteen years old at the time.
- In 1984, the world’s first teddy bear museum was created in Petersfield, Hampshire, England.
- In 1990, a similar foundation was created in Naples, Florida, United States.
- They were closed in 2006 and 2005 and the bears were sold at auction.
- Today there are many other teddy bear museums around the world.
This bear turned out to be a constant reminder to the children of their father’s tenderness and his deep connection to the natural world.
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Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: ptivs2.edu.vn