Toys on the move

The connection between Christmas and toys is a long-standing one. At one time, toys were handmade rather than store-bought. As society evolved, and technology along with it, superior materials, new forms of media and innovative production technology have changed the type of toys available. Some of these playthings become a fad for a short time, others come back year after year though sometimes in a changed form.

One of the most beloved toys, the Teddy Bear traces its origins to a hunting trip when Theodore Roosevelt refused to shoot a bear that had been caught and tied to a tree by the expedit...