Guido created Python in 1989 as a hobby project to keep himself occupied over the Christmas holidays. He chose the name Python as a tribute to Monty Python's Flying Circus. Python has been in development for over 25 years and exists in several implementations beyond the original CPython, including Jython, IronPython, and PyPy. The interpretation/compilation of Python source code depends on the specific implementation being used. Learning Python involves resources like A Byte of Python, online courses (MOOCs), local user groups (like ChennaiPy), and the recognition that learning is an ongoing process.