faerie - In Pure Spirit

: Tooth fairy pouch*

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 the tradition of a the tooth mouse, in Italy tooth fairy and small mouse are interchangeable and in Scotland there are stories of a white fairy rat which buys teeth with coins.

The modern story is that children who loose 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.

It is likely that the story is told and re-told as it is a handy way to reassure children who have lost a tooth.

Tooth fairy tooth pouch

The toot 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.

Ectopia 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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Old English tradition considers lilac to be an unlucky flower which should not be carried into the house. This tradition is particularly strong in Norfolk and surrounding areas.

It is often suggested that the lilac flower – especially the white blossom – is associated with death and that’s why lilac is unlucky. As a result lilac is especially unwelcome in hospitals.

To understand how to cope with lilac in the house we need to look at more closely at the superstition.

The Lilac Tree was once associated with faeries. The fragrance of the tree was so sweet and powerful that it would entice fairfolk and to have lilac flowers in the house would lure the faeries inside.

Faeries were often feared. They were wild and unpredictable. Even pranks and games might prove to be deadly. Worse of all faeries would kidnap people and carry them to the realm of the fey.

The association lilac has with death originates from these roots – people going away and not coming back.

In order to safely display lilac in the house householders should take steps to keep faeries away. There are a number of methods for this. Faeries, it is said, will not cross a line of salt and are vulnerable to cold iron but neither of these methods are particular appropriate for modern households.

Wind chimes serve to distract faeries both with their tinkle and motion. To avoid the lilac bad luck consider putting up wind chimes.

In Pure Spirit

Are you superstitious? Do traditions and fears which originated hundreds of years ago in England mean anything to you today?

Tooth fairy tooth pouch

Coping with unlucky lilac in the house

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