Winnie-the Pooh - the Ambassador of Friendship
(Published on 14 August 2007 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)
Does one need a special day to celebrate ‘Friendship Day’? For me each day is dedicated to my friends. Each day is marked by raising a toast to all those friends who have stuck by me, through thick and thin. Then why this big fuss over the first Sunday of August, when Friendship Day is celebrated the world over?
Considering the valuable role friends play in our life it was considered fit to have a day dedicated to friends and friendship. The tradition of dedicating a day in tribute to one’s friends began in America in 1935. Gradually the festival has gained popularity in other countries as well and today Friendship Day is celebrated the world over.
So what special things are you supposed to do on this day? On this day people spend time with their friends and express their feelings for them. Exchanging of gifts like flowers, cards and friendship bands is a popular tradition.
When we think of friendship, one name that comes to mind is that of Pooh. In 1997, the United Nations named Winnie the Pooh as the world’s ‘Ambassador of Friendship.’ Though Pooh is described as a ‘bear of little brain,’ he has a big heart. To Pooh, friendship means not just caring and sharing with old friends, but also accepting new ones with an open heart. With his unconditional way of giving from his heart, lending a caring shoulder, and always having a friendly word of encouragement, Pooh teaches us important lessons about friendship. Winnie has always been acknowledged as an Ambassador of Friendship. He even led the Friendship Day celebration in Disneyland.
But what is really interesting is how Winnie happened to get his name. In 1914, a Winnipeg soldier Harry Colebourn bought an orphaned black bear cub in White River, Ontario while en route to fight in the First World War. Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba and is located at the eastern edge of the great plains of Western Canada.
Harry Colebourn named the bear ‘Winnie’ after his hometown, Winnipeg. The cub became the mascot of Colebourn’s regiment. When Colebourn was shipped out to the war zone, he donated the bear to the London Zoo, where it spent twenty long years. It was at this zoo that Christopher Robin Milne, the young son of author and playwright A.A. Milne happened to meet ‘Winnie’ the bear. The young Milne renamed his stuffed bear Winnie the Pooh and his father later wrote stories about a boy and his bear, Winnie.
Friends and friendship have always been valued… there can be no substitute for friends. To my readers – may there be numerous ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’s in your life who offer you unconditional love and support and a friendship that lasts a lifetime.
Miss Know-All
miss.know.all@gmail.com
Considering the valuable role friends play in our life it was considered fit to have a day dedicated to friends and friendship. The tradition of dedicating a day in tribute to one’s friends began in America in 1935. Gradually the festival has gained popularity in other countries as well and today Friendship Day is celebrated the world over.
So what special things are you supposed to do on this day? On this day people spend time with their friends and express their feelings for them. Exchanging of gifts like flowers, cards and friendship bands is a popular tradition.
When we think of friendship, one name that comes to mind is that of Pooh. In 1997, the United Nations named Winnie the Pooh as the world’s ‘Ambassador of Friendship.’ Though Pooh is described as a ‘bear of little brain,’ he has a big heart. To Pooh, friendship means not just caring and sharing with old friends, but also accepting new ones with an open heart. With his unconditional way of giving from his heart, lending a caring shoulder, and always having a friendly word of encouragement, Pooh teaches us important lessons about friendship. Winnie has always been acknowledged as an Ambassador of Friendship. He even led the Friendship Day celebration in Disneyland.
But what is really interesting is how Winnie happened to get his name. In 1914, a Winnipeg soldier Harry Colebourn bought an orphaned black bear cub in White River, Ontario while en route to fight in the First World War. Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba and is located at the eastern edge of the great plains of Western Canada.
Harry Colebourn named the bear ‘Winnie’ after his hometown, Winnipeg. The cub became the mascot of Colebourn’s regiment. When Colebourn was shipped out to the war zone, he donated the bear to the London Zoo, where it spent twenty long years. It was at this zoo that Christopher Robin Milne, the young son of author and playwright A.A. Milne happened to meet ‘Winnie’ the bear. The young Milne renamed his stuffed bear Winnie the Pooh and his father later wrote stories about a boy and his bear, Winnie.
Friends and friendship have always been valued… there can be no substitute for friends. To my readers – may there be numerous ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’s in your life who offer you unconditional love and support and a friendship that lasts a lifetime.
Miss Know-All
miss.know.all@gmail.com
posted by Sangeeta Rana @ 8:30 AM
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