Estonians take teddy bears to work and school

People across Estonia brought teddy bears to work and school on Wednesday to mark International Teddy Bear Day, ERR reported.

The Tartu Toy Museum, a museum whose mascot is a bear, has promoted the celebration in October for 10 years, highlighting how teddy bears can join in at work, school and kindergarten. The idea came from a calendar of “cute things,” the museum’s development manager, Marge Pärnits, said.

At Raatuse School, teddy bears sat alongside pupils in a first-grade class. Teacher Mare Leivo said the children were invited to bring a favourite bear if they wished. For one pupil, Edvard, it was his first time marking the day; his bear was called Mõmmi.

Pärnits said adults also brought bears to work, placing them by computers or taking them into workplaces such as welding departments. She said a teddy bear could offer comfort and a listener when someone felt sad or afraid, whatever their age.