Bears by nicolaitan
Bears have been associated with Berlin since the founding of the first small village at this site, appearing as early as 1260. While appearances might suggest a pun on the name of the city, it appears that "Berlin" was actually referring to the swampland on which the city was founded. For many centuries, the bear did not appear on the flag or coat of arms, rather the Eagle of Brandenburg. Only in 1954 did the bear become the government symbol for flags. Today bears permeate Berlin, everything from professional sports teams to the awards handed out by the Berlin Film Festival.Scattered throughout Berlin, 6 foot tall fibreglass bears painted in all sorts of designs reflect the works of over 140 artist from 125 countries created for the Buddy Bear display at the Brandenburg Gate in the early 2000's. The concept was for the different bears to highlight the differences and similarities of all nations and to further understanding and peace. Many were sold to private corporations for a total of hundreds of millions of euros for charity, much to Unicef. After displays all over the world, the bears were returned to Berlin in 2006. In addition to the originals, many other businesses have placed their own bears in different poses and decorative styles throughout the city.