Today, folks, is Teddy Bear Picnic Day. That is not a joke. We’re all familiar with the days devoted to desserts at this point, but now we’re moving on to a whole new concept. It’s not Picnic Day, which could make sense. It’s not Teddy Bear Day, which would be slightly weirder but still within the realm of normalcy. No, this is on a new level. This is a day in the middle of July that revolves around teddy bear picnics. What are Teddy Bear picnics? Is this an actual concept? Apparently the answer is yes, so we’re going to tell you about it.
Honestly, it’s not actually that weird that Teddy Bear Picnic Day exists. After all, you’re probably familiar with the song “Teddy Bears’ Picnic”. Melodically, it’s exceptional. The lyrics, on the other hand, are, well, they’re about Teddy Bears. For example: “Picnic time for Teddy Bears/ The little Teddy Bears are having a lovely time today”. It was actually composed in 1907 by a guy named John Walter Bratton, and, ever since the Teddy-Bear-themed lyrics were added, it has become a popular children’s song. (We’ve included a video of animated version of the song at the bottom so you can show your kids.) In fact, the song has been recorded by famous artists, including Bing Crosby and Dave Van Ronk. What’s also interesting is that the Teddy Bear, which is a staple in every kid-filled household, didn’t exist before the 20th century. It only came to be thanks to Theodore — “Teddy” — Roosevelt and his refusal to shoot a bear while hunting.
So, clearly, you should be listening to this song today. But what else can you do to celebrate Teddy Bear Picnic Day? Well that’s easy. Go on a picnic! Grab the kids, whip up some delicious — and portable — treats, and head to the closest park. As much as we might mock the idea of a day devoted to Teddy Bear picnics — we’re still unsure of what exactly that is — July 10 just became another reason to spend time with your kids outdoors. And, just because we’re extremely generous, we’ll give you the link to a great set of picnic recipes from Country Living.
There you have it. It’s Teddy Bear Picnic Day, and it’s time you celebrated. (And don’t forget to watch the clip.)
