Polar Bear, Polar Bear & Winnie the Pooh

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Did you know today is Winnie the Pooh Day?

 

Along with Teddy Bear Day, Teddy Bear Picnic Day and Have a Party with Your Bear Day, Winnie the Pooh Day has to be one of the cuddliest days of the year. Of course, we can include Valentine's Day in the cuddling category also. But, for today, we will concentrate on one of the most famous bears of all time, Winnie the Pooh.

This day was established to celebrate the birthday of A. A. Milne (January 18, 1882), the creator of the Winnie the Pooh character. Milne's storybooks began with the book Winnie-the-Pooh (1926), and this was followed by The House at Pooh Corner (1928). Milne also included a poem about the bear in the children’s verse book When We Were Very Young (1924) and many more in Now We Are Six (1927). All four volumes were illustrated by E. H. Shepard. [Source: en.wikipedia.org]

Disney's adaptation of Stephen Slesinger,
Inc.'s Winnie-the-Pooh
Source: en.wikipedia.org

Milne did not stop with just the Winnie the Pooh character, who by the way was named after a teddy bear owned by his son. Winnie's pals include Christopher Robin (his son's name), Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet, and Roo. Christopher's toys lent their names to most of the other characters created for the stories.

Pick up a Pooh book today, from your own collection, your child's collection or maybe even visit the library. Have some fun! Celebrate Winnie the Pooh Day by reading one or more of the storybooks about the adventures of Winnie and his friends. Don't read them alone. Read them with your children, grandchildren, neighborhood kids or just for yourself in reflection of your own childhood days. Whichever route you choose, don't forget to cuddle! That's the bestest part of all!

This Day in History: January 18, 1733

 

Whether this had any connection to A. A. Milne and his son's teddy bear is yet to be determined but it is interesting to note the first polar bear was exhibited in America (Boston, Massachusetts) on January 18, 1733.

The baby polar bear does look rather cuddly...

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Not so sure I can say the same about the Mama (or Daddy)...

A polar bear is seen at St-Felicien Wildlife Zoo in St-Felicien, Quebec March 6, 2008.
REUTERS/Mathieu Belanger (CANADA)(Credit: Reuters)

 MORE for January 18

Throughout history, there are a plethora of events occurring on any given day. Today is no exception.

MUSIC History for January 18

This Day in History: January 18, 1939

Louis Armstrong and his orchestra recorded "Jeepers Creepers."  Some declare this to be the best masterpiece ever recorded in music history.

The date on the video indicates 1938. There was a radio performance of "Jeepers Creepers" on December 14, 1938, New York, NY. The song was recorded on January 18, 1939, also in New York, NY.

This Day in History: January 18, 1993

Since we are also in the three-day weekend of celebration commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr. it is also interesting to pinpoint Today in History: January 18, 1993 - The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday was observed in all 50 U.S. states for the first time. By The Associated Press