The origin of the tooth fairy myth is not clear but some believe it is an adaptation of “La Bonne petite Souris” a French fairy tale in which a mouse helps a good queen by hiding under the pillow of an evil King, sneaking out at night and knocking his teeth out.
In fact, the Spanish have a tradition of the tooth mouse. In Italy, the tooth fairy and a small mouse are interchangeable, and in Scotland, there are stories of a white fairy rat that buys teeth with coins.
The modern story is that children who lose teeth should place them under their pillow, and there is a chance the tooth fairy will visit in the night. The tooth fairy collects the teeth and leaves behind a coin instead.
The story is likely told and retold, as it is a handy way to reassure children who have lost a tooth.
Delve Deeper
Tooth fairy tooth pouch
The tooth fairy tooth pouch is a simple concept: a pretty bag in which to place the tooth. This makes the tooth/coin switch for the parent much more convenient, as it makes it easier to find the tooth in the child’s bed.
Etsy currently sell tooth fairy tooth pouches.
In Pure Spirit
Have you re-told and re-used the story of the tooth fairy?
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