By Miriam Jabour

The Vicksburg Post

 

Teddy bears and Christmas are a perfect match for children and all who are young at heart. A part of the American tradition for over a hundred years, they delight millions of children throughout the year not just during the Christmas season. These fuzzy, cuddly toys have starred for twenty-five years in the Christmas decorations at the home of George and Ginny Abraham.

“It started small. I was bored with my Christmas decorations and I looked around and saw several teddy bears left behind when my oldest girls went off for college. Those ten bears were put on the mantle and started it all.” Ginny Abraham commented.

Those ten bears have grown to over 500 bears that adorn the Christmas tree, mantle, tables and sideboards, above the china cabinet, on the pianos and hanging from the kitchen window frame. Blow-up and lighted teddy bears also offer a greeting to visitors from the Abrahams’ front porch throughout the holidays.

“I have bought bears and have received bears as gifts from family and friends over the years.  Some of the bears talk; others sing, dance or play the piano. I have lots of colors from turquoise and pink to more traditional ones plus many sizes and quite a few costumed bears. There is a teddy bear Noah’s Ark and a Nativity scene including a bear dressed up in sheep’s clothing.”

Stories of fierce bears date back to medieval folklore but according to Encyclopedia.com the concept of the teddy bear we know today can be traced back to the early 1900s and is thought to have occurred in two different parts of the world at about the same time.  In 1903 Germany, Margarete Steiff made animals out of felt for her small family owned toy business. A bear sketch made by her nephew after his visit to the Stuttgart zoo inspired her to develop a toy bear. Margarete softened what she saw as a scary looking bear by adding a cute little nose, button-eyes and moveable arms and legs which allowed the

toy bear to sit or stand. Made from brown mohair stuffed with wood shavings, the toy bear was displayed by her nephew at a toy show in Leipzig, Germany where it caught the eye of an American toy buyer who ordered 3,000. They became an instant success.  Today, thousands of Steiff bears are produced every day and they are considered some of the most exquisite teddy bears made in Europe according to Tracy Martin, author of Christmas Collectibles, who devotes an entire chapter in her book to Christmas Teddy Bears and Their Fuzzy Friends.

Abraham displays three of the Steiff teddy bears in her Christmas collection. In the United States according to Enclopedia.com, a teddy bear was also developed by Morris Michton in Brooklyn, New York. His wife made toy ponies which they sold in their shop and he encouraged his wife to create a toy bear he called a teddy bear after seeing a political cartoon published in November 1902 related to a bear hunt in Sharkey County, Mississippi.

According to the Theodore  Roosevelt  Association website the then President “Teddy” Roosevelt refused to kill a wounded black bear secured by members of his hunting  party after a three day hunt during which he had not spotted a single bear to shoot. Roosevelt stated under the circumstances, it would be unsportsmanlike to kill the bear.

The cartoon featured a small cute-faced bear tied up for the President with him refusing to shoot it.

Michton’s bear is known as the Morris bear and looked similar to the German Steiff bear according to Encylopedia.com. Whoever the original creator of this wonderful toy might be, by 1907 almost a million teddy bears had been sold and ever since there has existed a very special love affair between them and children of all ages. Many may not realize it but the teddy bear has been named Mississippi’s official state toy. On the 100th anniversary of Roosevelt’s historic Sharkey County bear hunt in 2002, the community of Rolling Fork celebrated the first Great Delta Bear Affair. It has become a popular annual event with a special commemorative bear offered for sale each year. Abraham has never attended but hopes to do so in the future and take her grandkids.

“I have nine state quarter bears including Mississippi, Louisiana, West Virginia, California, Minnesota, Oregon, Illinois, Texas, Kansas and I’m still collecting” she also mentioned and would love to have one from the Great Delta Bear Affair.

Storage is a major obstacle since the bears outgrew the six large storage tubs she originally used. Vacuumed seal bags are great to save space Abraham commented and the bears plump up just fine when she unseals the bags. Plus they allow her to store them inside for temperatures and humidity control.

Abraham starts getting the bears out early in the holiday season. With so many to unpack and set out, it cannot be completed in just a couple of hours. They enjoy hosting many Christmas get-togethers for family and friends who look forward to seeing this delightful treasured display of teddy bears.

“Many of the bears have quite a history, others don’t but they are all loved just the same.” She says that the collection just kind of happened accidently as they accumulated over the years. They are quite a sight to see and it’s impossible to leave without a big smile and a warm feeling of Christmas wishes for love and peace for all.