National Winnie the Pooh Day - Show Notes for January 18 - Ep18

Today’s featured holiday is National Winnie the Pooh Day.

In 1926, British author Alan Alexander Milne, known as A. A. Milne, authored the children’s story that would bring joy to millions of children and adults over the coming decades. Winnie-the-Pooh is as beloved today as it was nearly a century ago when it was first published.

A. A. Milne was born on January 18, 1882 in Hampstead, United Kingdom. Thus, we celebrate Winnie the Pooh Day on Milne's birthday.

Milne got the idea for the Winnie the Pooh stories during W.W.1 while watching his son, Christopher Robin, visit his favorite animal in the London Zoo. Winnie was a female Canadian Black Bear who captivated Christopher’s heart. Christopher changed his favorite Teddy Bear’s name from Edward to Winnie and added the name, Pooh, which was the name of a beloved Swan.

The books were illustrated by E. H. Shepard who used the woods surrounding Milne’s home as the setting. Most of the characters in the Winnie the Pooh stories such as Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore, were names Christopher Robin had given to various toys from his childhood.

In later years Milne became disenchanted with the Winnie-the-Pooh stories, fearing they took attention away from his other writings. Christopher Robin also grew tired of the stories and came to resent his father for taking advantage of his childhood fascinations.

Regardless of their disillusion with the Winnie-the-Pooh stories, the world continues to love Christopher Robin, the imaginary bear, and his many friends. Disney now owns the “Winnie the Pooh” rights (Disney changed the name from the original "Winnie-the-Pooh" to "Winnie the Pooh"), which guarantees Winnie the Pooh will continue to delight the young and the young at heart for generations to come.

To celebrate Winnie the Pooh Day why not share your thoughts and feelings about the Winnie the Pooh stories on social media using the hashtag #WinnieThePoohDay.

Tune into tomorrow’s show to learn about National Popcorn Day. You’ll be surprised to learn the unusual and fascinating story about corn, popcorn, and this special day.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, share it with friends, family, and social media. They will thank you for the gift.

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This is your host, Stephen Carter, reminding you, this day is special, and so are you. Have fun, smile, and let your imagination wander the woods with Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh.