The bear that started as a kindness

September 9 is National Teddy Bear Day, and the stuffed animal it honors has one of the better origin stories in the toy world. The name is often traced to a 1902 hunting trip, when President Theodore Roosevelt reportedly refused to shoot a bear that had been cornered for him, calling it unsportsmanlike. A newspaper cartoon of the moment caught the public’s imagination, and soon toymakers on both sides of the Atlantic were selling little jointed bears. Treat the fine details as fond legend, but the affection is entirely real. The German company Steiff and the American shopkeeper Morris Michtom are both often credited with those early bears, and the toy caught on so fast that demand quickly outstripped supply.

Why the teddy endures

More than a century later, the teddy bear has outlasted nearly every toy fad that came after it. Part of the appeal is simple comfort — a soft, patient companion that a child can talk to, drag around, and fall asleep on. Part of it is nostalgia, since most adults remember a specific bear with a specific name. A well-made teddy, with sturdy stitching and safe, firmly attached eyes, can survive a childhood and get handed down to the next one.

Ways to celebrate

The day almost plans itself. Give a bear to a child, a friend, or yourself; there is no age limit on a good teddy. Dig out a beloved old bear and stitch up its seams or reattach a loose ear so it lasts another decade. Read one of the classic teddy-bear picture books aloud. If you have bears gathering dust, this is a fitting day to donate gently used or new ones to a charity drive.

A teddy bear asks for nothing and offers unlimited patience, which is more than can be said for most gifts.

Remember the real bears

It is a nice touch to let the toy point back toward the animal that inspired it. Real bears — black bears, grizzlies, and their kin — are magnificent and, in some places, under pressure. Reading a little about wild bears with a child, or supporting a reputable wildlife group, keeps the day from being purely about plush. Buy the bear, hug the bear, repair the bear, and spare a thought for the wild ones that gave the toy its name.

How to celebrate

  1. 1
    Give a bear to someone

    There is no age limit on a good teddy, so give one to a child, a friend, or yourself. A soft, patient companion is a small, reliable comfort. It is the most natural way to mark the day.

  2. 2
    Learn the origin story

    Read about how the teddy bear's name is often traced to a 1902 hunting trip and President Theodore Roosevelt's refusal to shoot a cornered bear. Treat the details as fond legend. The kindness at the center of the story is the best part.

  3. 3
    Repair a beloved bear

    Dig out a well-loved old teddy and stitch up its seams or reattach a loose ear. A little mending can buy it another decade of hugs. Repaired bears often mean more than new ones.

  4. 4
    Donate to a drive

    Charities and first responders hand out teddy bears to children in hard moments. Donating gently used or new bears is a concrete good deed. Check that the group wants stuffed animals before dropping them off.

  5. 5
    Remember the real bears

    Let the toy point back to the animal that inspired it by reading about wild bears with a child. Some populations face real pressure. Supporting a reputable wildlife group keeps the day from being only about plush.