1997 Holiday Teddy the Bear

1997 Holiday Teddy the Bear was the first Beanie Baby to wear a Santa hat, a pattern Ty repeated with a new holiday bear in most years after. He was introduced on 1 October 1997 and retired at year's end, a three-month run typical of a bear made for one holiday season.

Most examples wear a single ribbon, red or green, but a documented oddity exists with both colors tied on the same bear.

Counterfeits of this bear are common enough that the fabric and trim are worth checking before buying. Authentic fur runs in a richer color than the pale shade seen on fakes, and the head and body are larger on the real bear, where counterfeits come out smaller and overstuffed. The nose is a reliable tell too, with a shine on genuine examples and a dull finish on copies.

The scarf and Santa cap confirm it further. A genuine bear's neck scarf is noticeably thicker than the thin one tied on fakes, and the cap is a true red rather than the orange-tinted red counterfeiters often use.