What is the tradition?

Each year, Christmas Bear families travel from their home in the magical forest to visit homes like yours for the holiday season. They arrive at your door one evening before Christmas, and stay for the season. Their job is to act as a reminder of the the spirit of Christmas.

The bears appear like plush toys to us, but they are magic, and when you can’t see them, they might come to life to move around and play. Sometimes you might find them in different positions in the morning!

The Christmas Bear family that visits your home is unique to you, and every year a new bear joins the family. Each bear represents and reminds you of something special from that year. Some examples:

  • Your first bear might be ‘Baby Bear’ if you welcomed a new baby that year

  • Next year, two bears arrive. Baby Bear, plus a new bear (maybe named House Bear, if you moved houses that year)

This section is for GROWNUPS and PARENTS ONLY

If you are welcoming your Christmas Bear family to a household with children, grownups and parents will need to help the magic of the bears come alive

How to get started…

Before Christmas

  1. Find your first bear (a plush toy) to add to the family

  2. Attach a tag to the bear which includes the bear’s name and the year of arrival

  3. Hide the bear(s) away until you’re ready to welcome them

  4. Read ‘Baby Bear’s First Christmas’ (as often as you like!) to help everyone get excited for the bear(s) arrival

  5. One evening, a grownup secretly delivers the bear(s) to your door. The grownup places the bears outside the door, knocks, and then hides!

  6. Everyone answers the door and welcomes your Christmas Bear family

  7. To help the bears come to life, grownups are free move the bears around at night

After Christmas

  1. One evening after Christmas, everyone places the bear(s) outside the door. Say goodbye, with them well on their journey back home, and close the door

  2. No one can check the door for at least an hour! The bear(s) need their magic to travel - no peeking!

  3. While everyone is waiting, a grownup secretly collects the bear(s) - quickly and quietly - and hides them away until next year

  4. A little while later, everyone checks outside the door to see the bear(s) have disappeared!

Guidelines

  • PLAY

    Interact and play with the bears anytime during the day - and leave them to sleep under the Christmas tree at night

  • STAY NEAR THE TREE

    The bears must stay close to their natural habitat - the Christmas tree!

  • BE KIND

    The bears promote love and kindness, and are happiest when you do the same!