“What the hell is a jellycat?”: a question which has plagued many a Cub during this time of affection. Simply put, Jellycat is a British toy company which creates surprisingly soft and high quality stuffed animals, and the corporation’s products, the titular jellycat plushies, have found a niche in American culture, with this gift being a particularly popular choice for partners on Valentine’s Day due to form factor and quality.

Jellycats, established in London in 1999, are soft stuffed animals which have taken gift giving, especially around the holidays, to a whole new level. Their quality material and different varieties have also made them valuable collectors items.

According to Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy Junior Megan Cruz, “I think people like them because they’re cute and soft. They have a nice material and cool designs, and it can be kind of a collectors item, like some have hundreds of them.”

However, the price tag can raise some issues. While some items are relatively well priced for the quality, being about $20-30 as a happy median, some items can be quite expensive and even sometimes cost $40 or more, which some could argue to be a bit impractical for a plush.

Cruz gave her take on the matter, saying “I have [a jellycat] in [an] avocado shape that my friend got me for Christmas, and I like it a lot, it’s very cute and on my bed everyday. I wouldn’t say it’s worth the $40 plus though.”

While the price tag for jellycats can seem a bit intimidating, it should not prevent people from practicing the art of gift giving, especially for partners. It is surely a gift that will be appreciated. From collectors to first-time buyers, jellycats are a gift made to be shared.

With Loyola being an all-boys school, it is important for Cubs to know that their generosity and their search to do the greater good, the magis, for others doesn’t just come in big acts of kindness like service projects, but even simple gestures as giving a gift.

As Cruz eloquently states in her interview: “Get your girl a jellycat.”