Edward Bear was renamed Winnie-the-Pooh because “Winnipeg” was a favorite attraction on display at the London Zoological Gardens.

During World War I, a Canadian soldier named Harry Colebourn made a pet of a black bear cub he bought from a hunter for $20. He named it Winnipeg—or “Winnie” for short. The bear became his troop’s mascot and later a resident of the London Zoological Gardens. There, she was an adored attraction, especially to a little boy named Christopher Robin Milne, son of author A.A. Milne. He renamed his teddy, Edward Bear after her. This same teddy bear, as well as most of Christopher Robin’s toys are on display at the New York Public Library.

Christopher Robin and his stuffed bear became immortalized by his father, A.A. Milne in a series of books.  Those books then became a favorite franchise of Walt Disney.

~~Oh, yes, I’m rumbly in my tumbly. Time for something sweet.~~

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VICTORY GARDENS