Winnie the Pooh Celebrates 100 years

At some point in your life, if you grew up in an English-speaking country or even just somewhere deeply steeped in global pop culture, Disney or a well-worn book likely introduced you to Winnie the Pooh. The silly old bear has a way of slipping quietly into childhoods, whether through bedtime stories, VHS tapes, Saturday morning cartoons, or a beloved plush companion that never left your side.

“Winnie the Pooh’s 100 years” refers to the centenary of his very first printed appearance in the London Evening News in December 1925. The official celebration of his “100th birthday” will take place on January 18, 2026, exactly a century since the publication of A.A. Milne’s first full collection of stories, Winnie-the-Pooh. It’s not just a milestone in publishing history—it’s a moment that makes generations reflect on how this bear of very little brain has left such a big mark on our imaginations.

Winnie the Pooh actually made his literary debut not in a storybook, but in A.A. Milne’s 1924 collection of poetry, When We Were Very Young. Tucked away in the 38th poem, simply titled “Teddy Bear,” was a character called “Mr. Edward Bear.” The early incarnation of the beloved Winnie the Pooh. Alongside the verse was an illustration by E.H. Shepard, the very artist who would later bring the Hundred Acre Wood and its gentle inhabitants to life through his timeless drawings.

The story behind Winnie is just as charming as the tales themselves. The real Winnie was a black bear cub bought by Canadian soldier Harry Colebourn in Ontario before leaving for training in England during World War I. She sailed across the Atlantic, becoming the regiment’s mascot, until the soldiers were deployed to France. That’s when Winnie found her permanent home at the London Zoo, where she quickly became a favorite of young Christopher Robin Milne. Christopher even named his stuffed bear “Winnie-the-Pooh,” combining Winnie’s name with that of a pet swan.

But what about the “Pooh” in his name, where did that come from? As the story goes, young Christopher Robin (whom his family affectionately called Billy Moon) had a habit of trying to feed a swan during his morning outings. When the swan stubbornly refused to cooperate, the boy would exclaim “Pooh!” in exasperation. Later, when it came time to give his stuffed bear a new name, he combined the gentle zoo bear Winnie with the playful memory of that swan and thus “Winnie the Pooh” was born.

A.A. Milne, inspired by his son and his son’s collection of stuffed animals, immortalized them in stories that first enchanted readers in 1926. The illustrations of E.H. Shepard gave the Hundred Acre Wood its first visual identity and drawings that remain iconic even in a world now filled with Disney’s colorful interpretations.

Over time, Pooh became more than just a character on a page. He joined the rare company of animated icons honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. When Disney acquired the rights in the 1960s, they gave Pooh his now-familiar look (and dropped the little hyphen from his name), cementing him as a fixture in children’s entertainment. For many, Disney’s Pooh with his red shirt, honey pots, and gentle voice feels like an old friend who’s been around for every picnic, rainy afternoon, and heart-to-heart about the simple joys of life.

Now, a hundred years later, Winnie the Pooh isn’t just a literary bear, or a Disney icon—he’s a timeless reminder of innocence, imagination, and the enduring power of childhood wonder.