Today is Winnie the Pooh Day...

Alison Neighbourly Lead from Kamo

Today is Winnie the Pooh Day! DID YOU KNOW....
Everyone's favorite honey-loving bear in a red crop top has been around since 1926, when A. A. Milne released his first collection of short stories.
Back in 1914, a Canadian veterinarian named Lt. Harry Colebourn bought a real bear for $20 while serving in WWI. He named his new pet Winnie, after his native Winnipeg, and the cub ended up serving as a mascot for the regiment while he was stationed in England.

However, when the soldier left for France, he left Winnie behind where it was safer at the London Zoo.

A.A. Milne's son, Christopher Robin, saw the Canadian bear saw at the London Zoo and named a stuffed bear toy he owned, 'Winnie'.

The "Pooh" part of Winnie's name actually came from a swan. But the exact origin is hard to pinpoint: Some sources say that the Milne family met a swan named Pooh on vacation, and Milne also refers to a swan named "Pooh" in his poem called "The Mirror." "Christopher Robin, who feeds this swan in the mornings, has given him the name of 'Pooh,'" Milne wrote. "This is a very fine name for a swan, because, if you call him and he doesn't come (which is a thing swans are good at), then you can pretend that you were just saying 'Pooh!' to show him how little you wanted him."

So that was how Winnie the Pooh's name came about! The storybook character, Winnie the Pooh, was inspired by a stuffed bear A. A. Milne's son owned.

And for all those neiighbours out there - Have a wonderful Monday.