Teddy Bears' Day

What Is Teddy Bear Day?

October 27 is "Teddy Bear Day." It marks the birthday (October 27, 1858) of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, who gave the teddy bear its name, and it is said to have been proposed by teddy bear enthusiasts in the United Kingdom. "Teddy" is a nickname for Theodore.

How the Teddy Bear Was Born

The teddy bear grew out of an episode from a presidential hunting trip.

• Mississippi, 1902: In November 1902, President Roosevelt joined a bear hunt in Mississippi. When no game turned up, members of the party cornered a bear, tied it to a tree, and invited the president to shoot it. He is said to have refused, calling it unsportsmanlike.
• From cartoon to toy: The story was depicted in a political cartoon by Clifford Berryman in The Washington Post. The real bear is said to have been a large, old animal, but the cartoon drew it as a small, cute cub, and it became popular. Soon stuffed bears were sold as "Teddy's Bear."

Where Was the First Teddy Bear Made?

• The Michtoms in America: Morris Michtom and his wife Rose, who ran a candy shop in New York, are said to have made a stuffed bear after seeing the cartoon and displayed it for sale in their shop. They later founded a toy company.
• Steiff in Germany: Around the same time, the German company Steiff developed a stuffed bear with jointed limbs and received large orders from America. Which came first is still unclear.

Teddy Bear Trivia

• The button in the ear: Steiff products are known for a metal button in the ear, adopted around 1904 as a mark of quality.
• Valuable antiques: Old teddy bears are popular with collectors and sometimes fetch high prices at auction.
• Winnie-the-Pooh: Pooh was modeled on the teddy bear owned by Christopher Robin, son of author A. A. Milne.
• Teddy bears in Japan: Japan has teddy bear museums and specialty shops in many places, and handmade bears by teddy bear artists are popular too.

Ideas for Teddy Bear Day

• Share memories of a stuffed toy you treasured as a child with family or coworkers.
• Visit a teddy bear museum or shop.
• Choose a small teddy bear as a gift for someone special.
• Like the president in the story, try to act with consideration for others.

A Toy Born from Compassion

October 27 celebrates the teddy bear, born from a presidential hunting story and loved worldwide for more than a century. The tale of the president who refused to shoot a helpless bear is still told alongside the toy. Today, try to show a little extra consideration to the people around you.