A lot can be learned from the philosophies of Winnie the Pooh . There’s a lot more to this beloved bear than meets the eye. In fact, many aspects of the character remain a mystery.
I grew up on Winnie and his pals, which is why I’m pleased to present these 10+ facts about Winnie the Pooh and his friends that even diehard fans didn’t know.
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1. At one point, Winnie the Pooh was worth more than Mickey Mouse!
It’s sounds made up, but there was a time where this silly old bear was bringing in more revenue than Disney’s own beloved mascot!
Winnie has since been nudged out of the top spot , but just barely.
2. There’s an actual Poohsticks Tournament held every year.
Poohsticks was a game that Christopher Robin used to play with Winnie. You drop a stick in the river upstream and then track its progress to the finish line. Whoever’s stick is the quickest, wins the race!
The tournament has been going on for more than 35 years.
3. The real Winnie was actually a girl!
Winnie the Pooh was created by the author A.A. Milne . During a trip to the zoo, Milne’s son Christopher Robin became utterly transfixed with a black bear named Winnie.
That chance encounter, along with Christopher’s teddy bear, became the inspiration for the many adventures of Pooh bear.
4. Christopher Robin resented his father terribly.
In his memoir, Christopher wrote that his father “had got to where he was by climbing upon my infant shoulders , that he had filched from me my good name and had left me with nothing but the empty fame of being his son.”
5. Most of Winnie the Pooh’s woodland friends are based on stuffed animals Christopher Robin owned.
They’re still on display ! You can actually visit Winnie, Rabbit, Piglet, Eyeore, Kanga, and baby Roo!
Owl and Rabbit came along later and weren’t based on Christopher’s toys.
6. Winnie is Canadian!
In 1914, a Canadian soldier by the name of Harry Colebourn had a chance encounter with a trapper on a train.
The man held a baby black bear cub on a leash and was seeking out a buyer.
Harry became immediately taken with the cub and purchased him from the trapper.
He named the bear “Winnipeg” after his home town. Sadly, a few short months later Harry was called to the Western Front in France. He sailed with the bear to London aboard the S.S. Manitou.
Once they arrived, Harry said a tearful goodbye and left Winnie at the newly opened London Zoo Bear Sanctuary.
7. The original Roo stuffed animal is lost to the annals of time
It happened decades ago when Christopher Robin was still a young boy. Apparently, he had been playing in an apple orchard and little Roo never returned!
Hopefully, he made his way back to the Hundred Acre Wood safely!
8. Originally, Pooh never wore a red shirt.
Or any shirt for that matter! He didn’t start appearing with it until the early 1930s.
Pooh appeared on the cover of an RCA Victor picture record and from that point on, he’s always been depicted in his classic red shirt.
9. There’s a national Winnie the Pooh Day!
It’s celebrated every year on January 18th , which also happens to be author A.A. Milne’s birthday!
There’s no right or wrong way to celebrate, just make sure to cuddle up with a blanket, a friend, and a big bowl of honey! Whoops, I meant popcorn…
10. You’re encouraged to write Winnie a birthday card.
As was mentioned earlier, Winnie and his friends are on display at the New York Public Library. Every year, the staff encourages fans to write Winnie, wishing him a happy birthday !
This year, he’ll be turning 99 years old!
11. Pooh has a very recognizable voice.
Voice actor Sterling Holloway voiced Winnie up until the year 1977.
Sterling was also the voice of the Chesire Cat from Alice in Wonderland , as well as Sleepy in The Seven Dwarfs .
12. Everyone around the globe loves Winnie the Pooh!
As of today, Winnie The Pooh has been translated into more than 50 languages all around the world.
You can even look to see how his name is spelled and pronounced depending on the country of origin.
13. Winnie has a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame!
Winnie was awarded the prestigious honor back in 2006. Pooh’s one of only a handful of fictional characters who have been given their own star.
Others include Mickey Mouse and Snoopy.
14. Pooh’s 100 Acre Wood really exists!
I suppose I should say that Pooh’s Hundred Acre Wood was inspired by a real-life forest. In fact, you can still go and visit it to this day.
It’s called Ashdown Forest and it’s only 40 miles from the center of London. If you’re ever in the UK, make sure to pop in!
