The tooth fairy is a mythical figure that young children all across the world believe in. When a child loses a tooth they place it under their pillow in the hope that the tooth fairy will visit and exchange it for a reward. This tradition is widely accepted and has been practised for many years. The tooth fairy finds it origins in Europe.
Early Europe
It is believed that the tooth fairy originated in early Europe when it was common practise to bury children’s teeth that came out. The sixth tooth was significant as it was a ritual for the parents to take the tooth and leave a money or a small token gift from the tooth fairy in its place. Some of the earliest records in northern Europe describe the customs related to baby teeth. A tooth fee was paid to a child when they lost their first tooth.
The Middle Ages
There were a number of ideas surrounding baby teeth during the middle ages. In England children were advised to burn their baby teeth for the most prosperous afterlife. If they didn’t follow this practise it is believed that they would spend all of eternity looking for them in the afterlife. Witches were also greatly feared at the time and burning or burying their teeth meant that they couldn’t be found. It’s believed that if witches got hold of your teeth they would hold complete power and control over you.
The Vikings are understood to have paid children in exchange for their baby teeth. They were seen to bring luck in the Norse cultures. When men went off to battle they would create a makeshift necklace with string and children’s teeth and wear it for luck.
The Tooth Fairy Today
Children still leave their teeth out for the tooth fairy in exchange for money or a small present. What the tooth fairy leaves depends on the country, the financial status of the family as well as being comparable to what the child’s peers receive. It’s undecided when the tooth fairy that we know today originated from. 1927, 1962 and 1977 are argued to be the beginning of tooth fairy folklore as we know today. However, the tooth fairy was referenced in a 1908 newspaper in the ‘Household Hints’ section.
The tradition is a great way to get a reluctant child to allow the removal of their loose tooth. It’s exciting for children to put their tooth under their pillow and imagine a fairy taking it away during the night. They love finding a small gift or sum of money in its place fuelling their imagination.
The origins of the tooth fairy are vague and start somewhere in early Europe. Beliefs varied throughout the Middle Ages; however, there were still rituals in place. There is no agreement on the modern tooth fairies origin. The tradition is widely practised and helps a child comply with having their loose tooth pulled out.
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