THE CHARMING TOOTH FAIRY
Article about the tooth fairy and unusual tooth fairy gifts from All
About Baby: your source for unique baby gifts and personalized gifts
BACK
 At
All About Baby®, we love the Tooth Fairy.
That's why we've searched for some interesting gifts related to this special
fairy. Click here for our
Tooth Fairy Gifts.
We also realized that, although
we adore the Tooth Fairy, we really know very little about her. The
following is compiled from lots of research and numerous sources, but we'd love
to hear from you if you have some accurate Tooth Fairy information. Just
send us an e-mail.
ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT
THE TOOTH FAIRY
How did the myth of the Tooth Fairy begin?
It's unclear how the charming Tooth Fairy
actually came to be. She probably began her origin many centuries ago in a
culture that encouraged folklore, literature and the arts, where the concept of
fairies was widely accepted.
What is a fairy?
The word fairy is derived from the French
spelling of faery. The myth of the fairy dates back to ancient days and
was quite widespread, especially in the Celtic peoples. References about
magical fairies, both good and evil, can be found in numerous paintings and
literature that predate Christianity. Centuries later, the concept of the
fairy became popular during Shakespeare's day, as he and other writers of that
time period gave them prominent roles in plays.
Why did a fairy become associated with losing
a baby tooth?
Many folk cultures marked the loss of a child's
baby or milk teeth. Some cultures placed the tooth in a tree or threw it
to the sun. Other rituals involved having an adult swallow the tooth or
burn it. Even the Vikings had their own ritual called "tooth
fee" whereby a small gift was given to a child when its first tooth
appeared.
Why is the Tooth Fairy so popular?
The Tooth Fairy is a whimsical concept that helps
parent and child mark the transition from infancy to childhood. It's a
rite of passage that is not tied to any religion or holiday.
When does the Tooth Fairy come to visit?
Although it varies, children generally lose their
first baby tooth between the ages of 5 and 7 years. The lost tooth is then
placed under the child's pillow, in a special Tooth Fairy pillow or container.
During the night, the Tooth Fairy visits and makes an exchange -- usually
monetary -- for the tooth.
When did the Tooth Fairy become part of our
modern culture?
The Tooth Fairy was an established part of our
American folklore by the early part of the 1900s.
Why do most people refer to the Tooth Fairy as
a female?
As a popular-culture figure of modern times, the
Tooth Fairy is usually depicted as a woman. However, for the boys in the group, All About Baby®
offers a Tooth Fairy Prince figurine and a Tooth Fairy Pillow
with a blue bow, which can be personalized.
What does the Tooth Fairy bring in exchange
for the child's tooth?
The standard amount for the "baby
boomer" generation was a dime or sometimes a quarter, but that amount
has increased considerably. Children now receive anywhere from a dollar to
five dollars, and sometimes a larger amount for the first tooth. Some
children receive a gift in place of money.
Do children all over the world celebrate the
legend and magic of the Tooth Fairy?
Throughout English-speaking and many European
countries, the Tooth Fairy tradition is widely known and practiced (although in
many cultures, the first lost tooth is the only one recognized by the Tooth
Fairy). We're still doing research on other countries and we'd love to
hear from anyone who has lived or traveled abroad and has reliable first-hand
knowledge of this subject.
When does the Tooth Fairy stop visiting?
By the age of eight or nine, most children no
longer believe in the actual existence of the Tooth Fairy. However, many
kids play along with their parents because they enjoy the tradition and like
collecting the money. The last baby teeth are usually gone by 11 to 12 years of
age.
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