Abed:
No. It's a metaphor. It represents lack of pay-off.
[...]
Abed:
I get it. The meaning of Christmas is the idea that Christmas has meaning. And it can be whatever we want. For me, it used to mean being with my mom. Now it means being with you guys. Thanks, Lost.
Frustrated they never showed the polar bears backstory including his work as a scientist with a gambling problem and a fractured relationship with his son.