HERMANN-Spielwaren GmbH |
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HERMANN-Spielwaren GmbH |
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Bavarian Santa
Limited Edition 1000 pieces - world-wide
Mohair plush, excelsior filling, growler
19441-3 38 cm 15 inches
In the Workshop of Santa Claus
Despite the fact that teddy bears are collected all year around by adults, the Christmas season for old bear makers has a special meaning. Many memories return when it gets closer to Christmas. A teddy bear collection without a Christmas Bear for an old teddy bear maker is not imaginable. Long before the adults discovered their love for teddy bears, the bears were playmates for children and Christmas was the children's greatest event of the season.
The custom of children receiving presents on Christmas is dated back to Martin Luther (1483-1546). Just around that time, the history of toy making began in the Thuringia Forest. Because of the custom to surprise children with presents on Christmas Eve, the demand for toys increased. This was a chance for the people in the Thuringia Forest to earn a living. In the beginning horses and dolls cut out of wood were the first toys made around the 17th and 18th century. By the 19th century, this region developed into the center of the world toy trade industry.
In this world toy region Johann Hermann made a living by making simple wooden toys. In the United States a boom for teddy bears began, and the Hermann family started with the production of its teddy bears in 1913. Johann Hermann died in 1919. His son Max stayed in the birthplace of the HERMANN Bears and started his own little bear factory. Just like most toy manufacturers, Max Hermann's whole year production was orientated towards only one single day, namely Christmas. When the new year started, Max Hermann visited the Leipzig Trade Show. Here he was able to present his bears to the buyers from around the world. It was necessary to receive Christmas orders early in the year in order to keep the employees busy for the entire year. This way each month thousands of teddy bears were made at the Max Hermann factory. The finished bears were stored in huge warehouses awaiting their shipment date. During that time there was no vacation because all bears needed to be completed before the first snow fell. When fall arrived and the trees lost their leaves, it was time for shipping. For the last time the bears were brushed and combed before they started their journey to countries around the world. Now it became hectic in the factory of Santa Claus. Until late in the night all would work together so the bears would reach their new homes on Christmas in order to make all the children happy on Christmas Eve. After the last bear left the factory, Max Hermann celebrated with all his employees. Everyone was dancing and singing. The work for the year was completed. Now it was time for all the hard working helpers of Santa Claus to take a break and get ready for the next year.
