Teddy Bear

Question

A money box, or piggy bank, often takes the shape of a pig. I can understand this because live pigs used to be a kind of reserve in winter. Whatever was left in terms of food, you gave to your pig.

Children’s cuddly toys often have the shape of a bear and even toys with another appearance are often called “teddy bear”. I do not understand why children’s toys often take the form of a bear. What is the reason that children’s toys often take the shape of a bear? Why is this?

C. Hilverda, Hurdegaryp

Answer

Thank you very much for asking your question to the University of Groningen. Such a nice question! We do not have any experts in this specific area, but we can find an answer to your question, though it is not based on scientific proof.

We have to go back to 1902, when Theodore Roosevelt was the president of the United States. He went bear hunting, but refused to shoot a bear himself. There are several versions of the story: one story goes that it was a bear cub, another that it was a bear that had been caught, which did not prove to be any challenge to Roosevelt.

Not long after, a cartoon appeared in the Washington Post showing Roosevelt as a hunter that refuses to shoot a bear. This bear was to become known as “Teddy’s bear”.

These events and the hype surrounding the cartoon were soon picked up by a toymaker from Brooklyn. He invented and created the first toy bears made of plush and sold them as teddy bears.

It is indeed very interesting to look at the history and origins of certain symbols. We hope that we have been able to sufficiently answer your question. If we did not interpret your question correctly, you are welcome to submit your question again with additional explanation.

Sources (the first source is only available in Dutch) De Geschiedenis van Teddyberen 1902-2009 Theodore Roosevelt: The First Teddy Bear Teddy bear

Best wishes,

Gamma Support Point University of Groningen

Translated by Anniversary Project Group