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The tooth fairy is a traditional children's character said to give children a small amount of money (or sometimes a gift) in exchange for a baby tooth when it comes out of a child's mouth. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wiktionary (a portmanteau of wiki and dictionary) is a multilingual, Web-based project to create a free content dictionary, available in over 150 languages. ... For other uses, see Child (disambiguation). ... ...

Origins

Early tooth folklore

Cultural historians say that superstition has always surrounded teeth and these valuable tokens have been used to ward off witches and demons in the past. Likewise, if discarded body parts such as teeth, nail clippings or hair fell into hostile hands, it was believed that they could become the focus of sympathetic magic. Vikings were even supposed to give children a "tooth fee" for using children's teeth. “Witch” redirects here. ... “Fiend” redirects here. ... Magic (also called magick to distinguish it from stage magic) is a supposed way of influencing the world through supernatural, mystical, or paranormal means. ... For other uses, see Viking (disambiguation). ...

In a variety of cultures, the shedding of the first baby tooth became a kind of ritual. This rite of passage has been documented in numerous ways. Many of these ceremonies included verbal incantations and wishes, along with actions. Variations on this custom were most likely passed along through oral communication.

The development of the tooth fairy myth

The most commonly accepted belief by academics is the fairy's development from the tooth mouse, depicted in an 18th century French language fairy tale. In "La Bonne Petite Souris," a mouse changes into a fairy to help a good Queen defeat an evil King by hiding under his pillow to torment him and knocking out all his teeth. (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... French (français, langue française) is one of the most important Romance languages, outnumbered in speakers only by Spanish and Portuguese. ... A fairy tale is a story, either told to children or as if told to children, concerning the adventures of mythical characters such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, giants, and others. ... For other uses, see Monarch (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Monarch (disambiguation). ...

This combination of ancient international traditions has evolved into one that is distinct in the United States, Australia, United Kingdom, and other Anglophonic cultures. Folklorist Tad Tuleja suggests three factors that have turned this folk belief into a national custom: postwar affluence, a child-directed family culture, and media encouragement.

Pioneering scholar Rosemary Wells, a former professor at the Northwestern University Dental School, found archival evidence that supports the origin of different tooth fairies in the United States around 1900, but the first written reference to one specific symbol in American literature did not appear until the 1949 book, "The Tooth Fairy" by Lee Rothgow. Considered the world's tooth fairy expert, Dr. Wells even created the Tooth Fairy Museum in 1993 in her hometown of Deerfield, Illinois. After her death, the collection's contents were passed on to one of her grandchildren and remain in the family's possession. The Northwestern Univertity Dental School closed in 2001, 107 years after opening in 1894. ... Äž: For the film, see: 1900 (film). ... Year 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ...

The modern image of the tooth fairy has been shaped by its depictions in various media. The fairy's first major appearance in popular culture in the United States came in the Peanuts comic strip. In a March 1961 strip, new character Frieda asks if the prices are set by the American Dental Society. The character of the tooth fairy has also appeared in several children's and a adults' books and films, as well as an eponymous radio series. For other uses, see Peanut (disambiguation). ...

Modern traditions

Tooth fairy ritual

An eight-year old's gift to the Tooth Fairy

In Anglophonic cultures, children will traditionally places a lost tooth under his or her pillow before going to sleep. In the morning the child finds a coin, small banknote, or a present in the place of the tooth. The child is typically told that the tooth fairy came during the night and exchanged the tooth for the gift. Image File history File links Silvia_teeth_27_may_06_email. ... Image File history File links Silvia_teeth_27_may_06_email. ... This article is about the cushion. ... This article is about monetary coins. ...

A less-common variant is for the child to place the tooth in a glass of water beside the bed. Again, in the morning, the tooth is replaced with a coin. This variant is becoming more popular, as it is far easier for parents to find a tooth in a glass of water beside the bed without waking the child than it is to search under the pillow.

The Tooth Fairy is an example of folklore mythology sometimes presented to children as fact. Other prominent examples are Santa Claus (who originates from Saint Nicholas) and the Easter Bunny linking its origins to pagan worship. The realization or discovery that others may act on behalf of the tooth fairy is considered a part of growing up. Such realizations can also cause significant emotional pain in some children due to feelings of betrayal, while other children regard it as a small matter or are proud of themselves for having unmasked the truth. Many adults remember clearly for their whole lives when and how they discovered the history about the tooth fairy. by Sophie Anderson For other uses, see Fairy (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Mythology (disambiguation). ... A typical depiction of Santa Claus. ... For other uses, see Nicholas. ... This article is about the holiday figure. ...

Many families participate in the roles of this myth even when the children are also aware of the fictionality of the supposed supernatural entity, as a form of play or tradition. For other uses, see Play (disambiguation). ... For the opening number of Fiddler on the Roof, see Tradition (song). ...

The primary useful purpose of the tooth-fairy myth is probably to give children a small reward and something to look forward to when they lose a tooth, a process which they might otherwise find worrisome. It also gives children a reason to give up a part of themselves that they may have grown attached to.

Some believe that other useful purposes include giving children a sense of faith in things unseen, believing in the incorporeal, and helping them understand the difference between the real and the imaginary. According to popular folklore, teeth will be exchanged for presents on any day of the year except Christmas. Plato-Raphael. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Christmas (disambiguation). ...

Other tooth traditions

Tooth tradition is present in several western cultures under different names. For example in Spanish-speaking countries, this character is called Ratoncito Pérez, a little mouse with a common surname, or just "ratón de los dientes" (Tooth Mouse). The "Ratoncito Pérez" character was created around 1894 by the priest Luis Coloma (1851-1915), a member of the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language since 1908. The Crown asked Coloma to write a tale for the 8 year old Alfonso XIII, as one of his teeth had fallen out. For this articles equivalent regarding the East, see Eastern culture. ... This article is about the international language known as Spanish. ... This article is about the animal. ...

In Italy also the tooth fairy (fatina) is often substituted by a small mouse (topino). In France, this character is called La Petite Souris (« The Small Mouse »). In Ireland the tooth fairy is sometimes known as annabogle, although this is a more recent tradition. From parts of Lowland Scotland, comes a tradition similar to the fairy mouse: a white fairy rat which purchases the teeth with coins. This article is about the country. ...

In some Asian countries, such as Japan, Korea and Vietnam, when a child loses a tooth the usual custom is that he or she should throw it onto the roof if it came from the lower jaw, or into the space beneath the floor if it came from the upper jaw. While doing this, the child shouts a request for the tooth to be replaced with the tooth of a mouse. This tradition is based on the fact that mice's teeth go on growing for their whole life.

Tooth traditions in different parts of the world have been collected together in the excellent children's book Throw your tooth on the roof: tooth traditions from around the world written by Selby Beeler and illustrated by G. Brian Karas (Houghton Mifflin, 1998).

External links

• Straight Dope Staff Report: What's the origin of the tooth fairy?
• Tooth Fairy Folklore and Kid's Stuff
• Tooth Fairy Beliefs and Lore