“From it hang many teddies, people put them there as a way of making a wish to the tree” This was the first thing that I heard about The Teddy Tree. I immediately decided that I had to visit it, given that it had a story to tell.
Many versions have popped referring to the origin of the teddies on that tree. One of the most popular ones is this:
The story tells that a couple with their Little daughter were in car heading home, when, for the father’s mistake they had an accident, crashing into a tree.The impact was such, that all three family members died in that incident. Between broken glass and rubble their corpses were found, while on that tree, left hanging, was the girl’s teddy”
Is for this reason that for remembrance the people offer a teddy to the tree in order to make a wish.
Fifteen years ago it was called Plaza de la H (H Square), It was nothing more than a square located in 23 de Enero, Libertad street via Sierra Maestra. It was a mechanic who, without even thinking about it, made of this tree and the square it’s located, not only a point of reference, but a symbol of faith for the 23 de Enero’s community.
With this nickname some call Gustavo Carmona, the creator, who luckily we had the chance to interview. Telling us about The origin of The Teddy Tree .
“It was because of a slow payer. There was this client to whom I fixed his engine and later didn’t want to pay. Because the guy was black and looked like a monkey I hanged it on the tree for people to mock him. Later many neighbors would bring me their teddies so I would hang them on the tree. That’s how everything started”
Gustavo is aware that many myths have been spread about the tree. “People just love making stuff up”. He confirmed to us that there was an accident years ago, where a man was driving under the influence of alcohol next to his son, they crashed against the tree but nobody died.
23 de Enero’s community has reaped for a long time the habit of giving teddies to Gustavo for him to hang and making a wish. Gustavo tells us that:
“Many people come here to make requests to the tree. Some are such good people that have seen it come true. There was a man who came and asked for a job and a family, because the fellow also had a hard time trying to have kids, and it came true, a year later he had everything he asked for. Just good people that have their things come to reality, that’s it.”
Gustavo told us that sometimes he would get the teddies off the tree and give it to the kids but, sometimes, people go and steal them.
“Because I live on the front I have all the cars that I’m working on parked here, I’m always watching out. Onan early morning, I popped out to see them and I caught an old woman stealing my teddies, the newest ones. This woman was taking the dolls off the tree when I came close and I furiously complained, I really laid all my rage on her while she fled from the square. That’s such an abuse! How could you steal something that belongs to the community?”
Despite the value the community gives to this tree, many don’t respect it as they should, which is noticeable looking at the bad stateit’s standing currently.
Gustavo: I keep hanging the teddies because there are people that still bring them to me and this is a point of reference that nobody else has. People say:”I’ll see you on The Teddy Tree” and the other already knows where it is they are talking about.
Me: I understand that years ago the tree was full of these dolls, as if they were fruit hanging from it. In that moment, Venezuelans had another mentality also. To see how the tree is now, empty, forgotten, we could say that this isan indirect representation of where we are now as a society.
Gustavo: You’re certainly correct! What you’re saying is true. We were rich and we didn’t know. Back in the day, people even threw away their dolls. Who would throw something like that nowadays? Nobody.
Me:Not only that, there used to be a respect for the square and the tree
Gustavo: People have become very abusive. People used to come and spend time next to the tree, now they’re robbing from it.
We took the opportunity of making this question to Gustavo, who kindly answered:
“Because it is a living creature. He also needs water, he suffers, blossoms, and sometime it will go down, also. Everything that is up will soon be down. It’sa condition. Just like human beings, we get to a certain age, we start suffering from the body or the mind and we go down too. It’s the same”
These types of stories create questions in different aspects:
We see how a man who, just to make joke, originates a deep value in his community that hasgrasped onto it, and decided to believe on it. Several myths were created, and at the same time, the hope that this tree could grant wishes. Is it so simple to originate belief?
On the other hand, The Teddy Tree, which has been considered a symbol of faith, is actually being mistreated, disrespected, and forgotten. So, have we lost our sense of belonging and respect for what is ours? Is this a reflection of the current Venezuelan society?
After this great visit, I’m left with more questions than answers.
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