CHICAGO -- Winnie-the-Pooh, the affable bear who spent much of his youth being dragged up and down stairs by Christopher Robin, celebrated his 55th birthday.
Pooh, the toy bear that inspired A.A. Milne's well-read childrens' books featuring the lovable creature, turned 55 Wednesday.
Milne gave Pooh to his son, Christopher Robin, in 1926. Pooh's pals Piglet and Eeyore -- both eulogized in Milne's books -- followed as presents.
The birth of stuffed toy bears -- Teddy Bears -- was triggered in 1902 when President Theodore Roosevelt refused to shoot a captured black bear while on a hunting trip in Mississippi.
The Teddy Bear boom grew rapidly to 974,000 by 1907 and millions of the squeezable characters are now sold annually worldwide.
Teddy bear authorities say it is now estimated that one half of all Americans grew up owning a teddy bear.
