Loving Bears for Valentine’s Day
It’s February and love is in the air. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and millions of people are looking for the perfect Valentine’s gift to express their love. The perfect gift, according to Vermont Teddy Bear, is a teddy bear. Big or small, teddy bears have come to be one of the representative symbols of Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day is named after one of two early saints named Valentinus, martyred by the Romans. It was originally a Western Christian holiday, but is now celebrated in many forms around the world.
Valentine’s Day became associated with love in the 14th century when courtly romantic love was celebrated, helped no doubt by Geoffrey Chaucer. In 18th century England the day became one where loving couple exchanged various types of gifts and cards called valentines. Valentines cards went from handwritten notes to mass-produced greeting cards in the 19th century. Millions of cards are now sold every year, not counting the ones exchanged by school children.
When the teddy bear joined the ranks of hearts, lace, flowers and chocolate as a symbol of Valentine’s Day is not really known. It’s been a while, though. Even the King got involved with teddy bears when he sang [Let Me Be Your] Teddy Bear in his 1957 movie Loving You, written by Kai Mann and Bernie Lowe for the movie. Beginning with the stanza
“Oh baby let me be, your lovin’ teddy bear
Put a chain around my neck, and lead me anywhere
Oh let me be (oh let him be)
Your Teddy Bear”
the song was an instant hit, as were the movie and subsequent album. So, too, were teddy bears, as Elvis became an accidental teddy bear lover. Fans smothered the singer with thousands of bears; he later gave them to the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis.
The why they’re a popular gift is easy. Bears are so lovable with their soft fur, large brown/black eyes, and big hearts. Women young and old love them (boys do too; they just don’t advertise it as much). Bears big and small frequently come with red bows, red hearts or chocolates, and are often shown being hugged by a female. They’re thus very appealing for this holiday of love.
Don’t know what to give your valentine? Give her/him a teddy bear!