|
AMERICAN TOOTH FAIRY
There is speculation that the Tooth Fairy tradition came
from a story about a "tooth mouse" who was originally
depicted in an 18th century French fairy tale called La
Bonne Petite Souris (The Good Little Mouse). It was a
story about a mouse who changed into a fairy to help a good
Queen fight an evil King. The tooth mouse would hide under
the Kings' pillow and knock out all his teeth, ouch!
In Medieval Europe, it was common to bury a child's tooth
in the ground, usually in a garden or a field close to home.
Supposedly, the tooth was buried so that a new one would be
free to grow in its place, and it discouraged the evil
witches from finding the tooth and putting a curse on the
child.
When Europeans and others began migrating to the New World
in great numbers during the 17th century, they brought their
superstitious beliefs with them.
|
|
But as towns and cities took shape, people found that they
sometimes didn't have a place to bury the teeth. Instead, the lost
tooth was often placed in a small planter, perhaps on a window sill
or just outside a door.
No one really knows what prompted parents to begin putting the tooth
under a child's pillow or when the practice of leaving a gift became
widespread. However, it probably began to be part of our American
folklore sometime during the late 19th century. Older references to
the Tooth Fairy have been found as early as 1900 in magazines and
newspapers.
Encouraged by the media and a child-centered family culture after
World War II, along with belief in the old French custom, helped the
Tooth Fairy myth take firm hold in America.
The first reference to Tooth Fairy appeared in American
literature in 1949 when The Tooth Fairy, by Lee Rothgow was
published. Since then, the Tooth Fairy has appeared in Peanuts Comic
strip (1961) and several books and films.
It is common practice for young children in the U. S. to save
their "baby teeth" to put under their pillow that night for the
Tooth Fairy. She would come and visit and put a coin under your
pillow and take the tooth in exchange.
A newer practice is for children to place the tooth in a glass of
water next to their bed. That way the parents (oops, I mean, Tooth
Fairy), can find it easier. I remember a few nights myself searching
in the dark for the tooth, hoping that my sons would not wake up
during the process. We would always wrap the tooth in a nice sized
piece of tinfoil ahead of time, so it was easier for the Tooth Fairy
to find.
When I was a child, the going rate in the 1950's was 25 cents per
tooth. When my children were younger in the mid-1990's, the Tooth
Fairy gave them a dollar bill for each tooth. So I have no idea what
the Tooth Fairy brings children today, but with the price of gas it
must be getting quite expensive!
http://folknation.wordpress.com/category/fairy-tale/
http://www.tooth-fairy.org/tooth-fairy-legend.html
In this pocket you
will find
A teensy, tiny tooth of mine.
So while I sleep where
dreams are made,
Let's see if you
can make a trade.
Unknown
|
