bern meaning bear; and serkr, meaning coat

There is a Scandinavian legend that says - if a warrior put on a bear-skin shirt which has been blessed with herbs and special oils, then he would gain the strength, stamina, and the power of the bear.  As a warrior, he would be consumed by the frenzy of battle, capable of biting through the enemy’s shields or walking through fire without injury.

When the ancient Greeks observed female bears licking newborn cubs, they assumed that bears were born like shapeless lumps of clay, which their mothers then shaped into being.  For centuries, people believed that bears could sculpt both life and behaviour.

Parents still warn their children that they may “get a licking” if they don’t “shape up.”

Source: Bears: Imagination and Reality an exhibit by the Science Museum of Minnesota.

a tight embrace (noun)

a rowdy or noisy scene (noun)

Introduction – Activities – Glossary – Guided Program
Whyte Museum – Bears: 2000 and Beyond Teacher's Guide