Aside from the obvious association of fuzzy, white polar bears with snowy winter scenes, bears are often used in Holiday Decorating as representatives of winter, Christmas, cold seasons, and general holiday cheer. Why is that?
Is it because one of the first wildlife facts most children learn is about bears hibernating through winter? Or is it that we envy their furry, fuzzy, warm coats and thick fat layers that allow them to withstand extreme temperatures?
Or perhaps it's the fact that bears have traditionally been symbols of brotherhood, familial bonds, and the kinds of brotherly and family love that we also celebrate during the Holiday season?
Bears are big, burly, fierce and loving woodland creatures, which might account for some of the associations with Christmas and Winter time. It might also have a bit to do with those early childhood gifts - you know - of teddy bears, stuffed, soft, huggable bears that we so looked forward to as young children.
Some things, like our love of bears, never change.
