Is Paddington Bear well-known in your country?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326063)
Rockingham, Australia
May 17, 2023 4:27am CST
I’ve never known much about the fictional character, Paddington Bear, and I’m not sure what others know of him. It seems he is dearly loved in Britain. In 1994, a stuffed Paddington Bear was the first item to be passed through from England to France when the (English) Channel Tunnel was installed.
Then, in 2022, Paddington joined Queen Elizabeth II for tea and marmalade sandwiches, with both tapping their teacups to the beat of ‘We Will Rock You’. This became one of the last public appearances of the Queen before her death in September. He is mostly depicted with a battered suitcase and an old felt hat.
So, is Paddington Bear a familiar character in your country?
Photo courtesy: en:User:Lonpicman, Wikimedia Commons
31 people like this
34 responses
@ShyBear88 (59286)
• Sterling, Virginia
17 May
In the US, Paddington isn't as well-known as some other book characters but children do know of him or have seen the movie. More so my husband and I's generation read about him. My kids only know of Paddington the Bear because of the movie.
3 people like this
@ShyBear88 (59286)
• Sterling, Virginia
17 May
@JudyEv Seeing as the author is British of course it's popular in its own Country. Many people across the world do know about Paddington Station and learned heard of Paddington the Bear.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326063)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 May
So it seems he is best known in Britain. I wondered if I was the only one who didn't know about him. lol
@happylearner (1569)
• Indonesia
17 May
I've never heard/seen Paddington Bear before. Thank you for sharing!
2 people like this
@Beestring (13355)
• Hong Kong
17 May
Do not think it's a familiar character here.
2 people like this
@Shortie861 (44)
• United Kingdom
18 May
Paddington bear is very much popular here in the UK. I always remember him from my childhood and it was just last year he did a little skit with the Queen for her Platinum Jubilee, that was a lot of fun to watch and really showed that the Queen had a fun side to her.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326063)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 May
I saw the skit and enjoyed it. The Queen had a very good sense of humour.
@AmbiePam (85662)
• United States
18 May
@JudyEv Are you kidding?! I can’t believe most of the American mylotters have said that. He was all over the place when I was a child, and my best friend had an actual Paddington Bear when she was eight. My niece, Amyra has even seen both (fairly) recent Paddington Bear movies. He kind of had a steady reputation. Never wildly popular, but never forgotten.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130063)
• India
18 May
Never heard of this bear. I only have teddy bear soft toys and one was gifted to me by my online friend who visited me a few years ago.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130063)
• India
18 May
@JudyEv i was searching for a photo that is stored in the disorganized photo folders but just could not find it (lol)
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130063)
• India
18 May
@JudyEv Hurray!! I found it It was in the folder that had the name of my friend
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
17 May
The name is familiar here but I didn't know there was a book with him as the main character. I just looked him up and read about the refugee children brought to London during one of the Wars.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
17 May
@JudyEv 
I've never read one of the books about him so I may have just read his name in some other book. It's hard to tell where or why I learn some things. I read too many books. 
I've never read one of the books about him so I may have just read his name in some other book. It's hard to tell where or why I learn some things. I read too many books. 1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326063)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 May
@DaddyEvil They're kids' books so it's perfectly reasonable that you mightn't have read any of them.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118513)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 May
I know of Paddington Bear, but am not very familiar with him. I do remember hearing stories when I was a kid, but I can’t recollect them very well. There was a movie made a few years ago that I think had moderate success in the US. Otherwise, I think he is mainly a British obsession.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118513)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 May
@JudyEv Winnie the Pooh is much more popular here in the US than Paddington. You can only have so many adorable bears to love!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326063)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 May
@moffittjc That's very true. I could never cope with the name - Winnie the Pooh.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (15747)
• Raurkela, India
18 May
No, he is not. Can you tell us the significance of this Paddington bear.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326063)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 May
@aninditasen I've written more about him now. He was a stowaway and when his aunt had to go into care (she was looking after him), she told him to go to England.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (15747)
• Raurkela, India
18 May
@JudyEv What is he like? Why that tattered suitcase? Does it signifies a poor bear who has nowhere to go?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326063)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 May
It seems it's just England that is familiar with him.
@Tampa_girl7 (49065)
• United States
2 Sep
I’m more familiar with Winnie the Pooh , but I have seen Paddington. 
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (73576)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
17 May
Funny you should mention this. My Martin went to visit his son many years ago in the UK. I still have the photos take a look at who he is sitting next to,
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (73576)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
18 May
@JudyEv that was taken in London in 2007 it is the same statue. I mentioned you in reference to this post and found another interesting photo of Martin taken at that time,
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326063)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 May
@RasmaSandra Thanks. I've seen your post now.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (29175)
• United Kingdom
17 May
I think he's a particularly British institution! He was an animated (with paper cut-out characters) children's TV series back in the 1970s and 80s, and there were/are a series of books. Now a new generation has been introduced to him through two films.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326063)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 May
It's a fictional character that features in some books written for children.
@JudyEv (326063)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 May
@sathviksouvik The photo is of the Paddington Bear statue. He always wears a battered hat. I'm going to write more about him.
@sathviksouvik (17970)
•
18 May
@JudyEv yes that is fine. But in reality how the bear looks I am also curious to know
1 person likes this
@Treborika (17296)
• Mombasa, Kenya
18 May
For me I think they are not be popular in my country so to speak
1 person likes this
