On the shelves of children's shops you can see the many different stuffed animals - rabbits and kittens, puppies and pigs, foxes, and even geese. But a special place on the shelves and in the children's hearts hold soft bears. Teddy Bear - is more than a toy. This is a true symbol of childhood as the most happy and carefree pores.

The appearance of a teddy bear

It seems that the soft toy bears have always existed. But it is not. Mass production began only bears in the early XX century. In many countries, soft teddy bears with movable legs called Teddy. Name teddybear got no coincidence - they were named in honor of United States President Theodore Roosevelt.

In 1902, Roosevelt was in the hunt for the bear. Hunter's team has driven the American black bear and tied him to a tree, after which the President was invited to make a shot. But Roosevelt refused to do so, considering the killing of animals is unsportsmanlike. He, however, ordered that the animal is shot to the bear did not suffer. The story became famous and got into the newspapers. Interestingly, many of the details of the incident with the time erased from the memory, but all remembered that Theodore Roosevelt, who bore the nickname "Teddy", did not shoot the bear.

Event dedicated to the political cartoons in the media. One of these cartoons in which President extraction was depicted as a cute little bear, caught the eye of his wife Michtoma Morris, owner of toy store. On the motives of cartoon woman sewed teddy bear, which was put on display, and instantly became popular. Morris Michtom obtained the agreement of the president and called Teddy. Since the company was founded «Ideal Toy Company». But the owner of the company made a serious mistake in not patenting a toy, and soon began to make cute cubs competing firms.

European History

There is another version of the origin of the toy. Thus, it is believed that the first teddy bear was sewn Austrian citizen Margaret Steiff. The idea of ​​a soft teddy bear with movable front paws belonged to her nephew Richard, who designed this bear in 1902 (and in some versions even earlier, at the end of the XIX century). The success of the toy was a resounding: in 1904 at the Toy Fair in St. Louis has sold twelve thousand cubs, for which Margaret and Richard received a gold medal. «Steiff Company» patented the brand, and the cubs are sold this company to this day.

The first Austrian Bears were made of natural fur Fur - Luxury is timeless But this stuff was not too practical and too expensive. Therefore, already in 1903 it began production of plush teddy bears. Plush - soft fabric resembling velvet, but with a rare and a long nap. Touching plush toys very nice, although the secret of the popularity of teddy bears lies not only in this.

Charm bears

From plush can make almost any toy, such as a rabbit or a turtle. But it became popular teddy bears. With Teddy Bear hugging asleep babies older children feed them gruel and entrust their secrets, while adults buy more bears for interior decoration or very tiny - as a mascot.

It is known that small teddy bears often took on a flight pioneer aviators. A modern girl asked what gift they consider the most romantic, often referred to as a huge teddy bear. Generally, Big Bear designed mainly for adults. Children usually prefer a medium-sized bears: this toy can become a partner for a variety of interesting games. Modern bears externally almost indistinguishable from their predecessors, are often able to speak, write, and move it yourself.

The proportions have a teddy bear almost the same as that of a human baby - perhaps this is what explains the popularity of bear cubs in adult girls and women. The children appreciate the bears for toys that move legs, allowing them to play different games. Bruins made of soft material, but they are fairly thick - this makes such toys particularly attractive.

Many adults collect teddy bears. Each year, collectors, artists, producers and lovers of soft teddy bears collected in Münster (Germany) at the exhibition devoted to teddy bears. Also, in the world there are about twenty museums bears, which are a lot of bears of all shapes and sizes.

The most desperate fans of Teddy bears buy themselves more and more instances of little animals from famous designers. Some of the exhibits are produced in a single copy, the other - in tiny quantities. Collectible bears can be made of gold and precious stones, such as a teddy bear, released for the anniversary «Steiff Company».

Not just toys

Universal love of teddy bears is reflected in art. The most famous tale, the protagonist of which was a bear - "Winnie the Pooh" by AA Milne. The author gave a teddy bear reasonable disposition and resilient character. According to the book have been removed cartoons, which also became very popular.

The new birth is experienced in 1987. Teddy Bear touching the gray bear in the patch invented by Mark Payne, a member of the tax service. He became seriously ill, and somehow to do, began to paint Christmas cards for his friend Stephen Haines. Sad shabby teddy bear «Me to» became not less popular than his teddy prototype. The company Carte Blanche, founded by Stephen Hines, began to produce millions of copies, not only cards, but also all kinds of accessories with lovely bear. This bear is popular primarily among adults: probably every girl can find the house if you do not vest, then a notebook or even a card with a cute bear.

Maria Bykov

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