Author A.A. Milne brought the adorable, honey-loving bear to life in his stories which featured his son, Christopher Robin.
National Winnie the Pooh Day commemorates Milne’s January 18, 1882, birthday.
Pooh Bear, as he is affectionately called by millions, is a fictional bear inspired by a black bear named Winnie who lived at the London Zoo during World War I. Milne’s son, Christopher Robin, would visit the bear often and named his own teddy bear after her, yes, the original Winnie was a girl bear, and a swan named Pooh. It is unknown whether the swan was a boy or girl swan.
Christopher Robin’s love of the bear as well as his other toys; Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore inspired a collection of books starting with Winnie-the-Pooh in 1926. The books were illustrated by E.H. Shepard. Disney presently holds the rights to Pooh and the Hundred Acre Wood gang, having purchased them in 1961.
The toys were given to Christopher Robin between 1920 and 1928.All except Roo, who was lost in the 1930’s, are on display at the New York Public Library’s Children Center in Manhattan.
A few Winnie the Pooh quotes to help celebrate the day;
“Some people care too much. I think it’s called love.”
“You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.”
“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.”
“Some people talk to animals. Not many listen though. That’s the problem.”
“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.”
“Well,” said Pooh, “what I like best,” and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called.”
“When you see someone putting on his Big Boots, you can be pretty sure that an Adventure is going to happen.”
“Just because an animal is large, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t want kindness; however big Tigger seems to be, remember that he wants as much kindness as Roo.”
“Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon.”
“We’ll be Friends Forever, won’t we, Pooh?’ asked Piglet.
Even longer,’ Pooh answered.”
“You’re braver than you believe and stronger and smarter than you think.”