I don’t think there is anyone out there young, or old, who doesn’t love teddy bears! Real bears are one of the fiercest creatures in nature, but we’ve all become very attached to the fluffy, cuddly stuffed versions of the real thing. Have you ever wondered where the name "teddy" came from?

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The whole thing started a little over a hundred years ago on a hunting trip gone wrong. Theodore Roosevelt had a passion for hunting and for hunting bears in particular. On November 13, 1902, the President’s hunting party set out led by legendary guide Holt Collier. Roosevelt was determined to win the one trophy that had eluded him, the Louisiana Black Bear.

Since he was the President of the United States, Roosevelt’s guide among other members of the party wanted him to have a successful hunt.

Collier, wanting to save the President needless hard riding, sent him on ahead based on his feelings as to where the bear would come out of the woods. After several hours of waiting, Roosevelt gave up and headed back to the camp for lunch.

While the President was back at the camp enjoying his lunch, the bear did indeed exit in the exact area where he was previously waiting. Collier and his dogs eventually backed the bear into a bayou. Before they could reach the President, the bear attacked one of Collier’s dogs. Collier could not shoot without risking hitting his beloved dog, so he bludgeoned the bear in the head with his rifle.

While the bear was semi-conscious, Collier tied him with a rope to a nearby tree. The President was then alerted by three rifle shots that they had cornered a bear for him to shoot. When he arrived he was greatly disappointed by what he saw. The onlookers cheered him on, "Shoot the bear! Shoot it Mr. President!", but Roosevelt refused. He had been criticized in the past for his love of hunting and with three reporters present he did not want to bring further criticism upon himself.

The newspapers were wild for the story and at first tried to paint Roosevelt in a poor light saying he was unprepared and praising Collier for his heroic efforts. But the public took it a different way. Political cartoonists depicted the bear as a cute cub, causing even more public support of the President for his unwillingness to shoot the captured bear.

Soon everyone was talking about Teddy and the bear. And that was the beginning of the now famous Teddy Bear. Who would have imagined that such a sweet and lovable toy came from such a violent beginning? They were there to shoot bears to begin with – remember?

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Flora® Flora by Gund® 17", She's all prettied up in her pink Easter hat with multi-colored pastel neck bow with pink satiny center flower.

Taylor® Teddy Bear Bean filled and silky soft, Taylor will sit where ever you put him.