The Day of the Berlin Bear is observed in Berlin on March 22 every year, celebrating the heraldic beast of the city, the bear, which is one of its most recognizable symbols. This date commemorates the first recorded use of the bear as a symbol of Berlin, dating back to a guild seal from 1280. The bear's association with the city is linked to Albert I, known as Albert the Bear, and the name Berlin itself, which is thought to derive from the Old Slavic word for "swamp," but has been folk-etymologically linked to the German word for bear, "Bär." The bear has evolved in representation over the centuries, becoming the sole heraldic beast of Berlin in 1935 and is depicted rampant, standing on its hind legs. The Berlin International Film Festival honors this symbol with its highest award, the Golden Bear. Additionally, the Buddy Bears project, initiated in 2001, features life-size bear sculptures painted by various artists and exhibited in Berlin, later evolving into an international art exhibition.