National Tooth Fairy Day
National Tooth Fairy Day on August 22 celebrates the excitement and wonder of kids losing their teeth! National Tooth Fairy Day is a reminder for kids, young and old, to relive the fun of visits from the Tooth Fairy when a newly lost tooth was exchanged for a fun surprise as they looked under their pillow in the morning! The Tooth Fairy Collection, which includes the book “A Visit From The Tooth Fairy”, helps celebrate the passage of youth with a gift set that encapsulates this childhood tradition and creates a sense of anticipation every time a child loses a tooth. The Collection includes three beautiful elements to make the experience even more exciting and memorable: an enchanting storybook, a special Pouch that holds the tooth while they wait for a visit from The Tooth Fairy, and an opulent Vault used to store their teeth. The Collection is the perfect way to create an exciting experience for a child during these special times. The Tooth Fairy is committed to helping every child and as part of their mission, for every Tooth Fairy Collection purchased, up to seven toothbrushes will be donated to America’s Tooth Fairy. We love The Tooth Fairy Collection because it speaks to the wonder and innocence of childhood and reminds us to cherish the memories we make with our children as they grow.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL TOOTH FAIRY DAY
There are three figures that are the pillars of modern mythology for children — Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy. While the first two are well documented and discussed, not much is known about our elusive flying friend. But the Tooth Fairy is quite popular because every night children around the world excitedly anticipate the Tooth Fairy’s arrival after they have lost a tooth.
The origin of fairies dates back to 13th-century England when they were described for the first time by Gervase of Tilbury. The tradition of a child receiving a gift for a lost tooth can be traced back to medieval Europe. In a collection of writings called the “Eddas” about the Norse and Northern European traditions, there is a reference to a ‘tand fe,’ which directly translates to ‘tooth fee.’ As part of this tradition, children would receive a small fee from their parents when they lost their first tooth. This is because teeth were a symbol of good luck and prosperity. Some Viking warriors would even wear a string of teeth as a necklace during battle to protect them.
The closest counterpart of the modern Tooth Fairy came in the form of an 18th-century French fairytale, “La Bonne Petite Souris” (“The Little Good Mouse”). However, the first written American record of a reference to the ‘Tooth Fairy’ dates back to a 1908 “Chicago Tribune” article in which the author, Lillian Brown, provided parents with a magical suggestion on how to get their children to have their loose milk teeth pulled. That suggestion was, you guessed it, telling their kids that the Tooth Fairy would leave five cents under their pillow for every tooth they lost. In 1927, an eight-page script for a children’s play titled “The Tooth Fairy” was written by Esther Watkins Arnold. The play became widely popular, with schools reenacting it and imaginations being stirred with thoughts of a tooth fairy collecting teeth in exchange for money or presents. Since then, the Tooth Fairy has become a global phenomenon, reportedly paying visits to children in the U.K., Canada, and Australia.
In 2021, The Tooth Fairy Collection came up with an idea to make this decades-old American tradition even more fun and memorable for families and children. The limited-edition Tooth Fairy Collection is designed to support positive reinforcement and encouragement as kids experience this unforgettable milestone in fun and memorable ways. To celebrate and capture these precious yet fleeting moments, every Collection includes:
A beautifully illustrated hardcover Book called “A Visit From The Tooth Fairy” is written as a poem to support memory development, vocabulary, expression, and reading and writing in young children.
A special Pouch designed for children to slip their teeth under their pillow as they dream while waiting for a visit from the Tooth Fairy.
An elegant keepsake Vault that helps protect and store children’s precious baby teeth for years to come.
Just like the mystery surrounding the fairy, the origin of the holiday is just as mysterious. Someone somewhere created National Tooth Fairy Day to be celebrated in August but in the lives of children who are losing their baby teeth, the Tooth Fairy is celebrated all year round, as they partake in the enchanting experience of receiving visits and surprises from the Tooth Fairy for every tooth they lose.
NATIONAL TOOTH FAIRY DAY ACTIVITIES
1.Watch a movie or read a book about Tooth Fairy tales
Read the exciting story about losing a tooth and the magical Vault that helps the Tooth Fairy cherish and preserve childhood memories in The Tooth Fairy Collection’s book, “A Visit from the Tooth Fairy.” Additionally, there are dozens of books about the Tooth Fairy and other popular fairy tales. Go to your local library and check out a few. Read them with your child or an important kid in your life. There’s also the “The Tooth Fairy” movie and its sequel, both great for the whole family!
2.Prepare for a Tooth Fairy visit
If your child happens to be close to losing a tooth on National Tooth Fairy Day, help them get ready for a visit! Tell them about the legend of the Tooth Fairy. Write their name on their Tooth Fairy Collection Vault to personalize it. You can even try the various common tricks to get that tooth to fall out today! If you succeed, help your child hide the tooth in their special Tooth Fairy Collection Pouch under their pillow for the Tooth Fairy to find and exchange for a small surprise. A hand-written letter from the Tooth Fairy is another great way to get your child excited about the upcoming visit — they’ll be sure to cherish it for years to come.
3.Take care of your teeth!
This is something most of us should do every day but sometimes we slack off. Let National Tooth Fairy Day inspire you to dig out that floss and brush your teeth until your pearly whites sparkle! This day is also ideal for evaluating the brushing technique of children and assisting them in perfecting it. Make sure your child is brushing their teeth twice a day, for two minutes. All around, inside and out, tops and bottoms — including the biting surfaces!
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL TOOTH FAIRY DAY
A. Excitement in children
Children love the excitement of waking up to a gift from a fairy in exchange for a lost tooth. It’s a fun myth for parents as well as children. Participating in the fun and watching the pure joy little kids exude is wonderful. The excitement for both parents and children is akin to waiting for Santa Claus at Christmas and we all love it!
B. The fun of folklore
Everybody loves a good story, especially if it’s sprinkled with fairy dust. For centuries, fairy stories have enthralled both children and adults around the world.
C. It shows how resilient and brave kids really are
From the day they pop their first tooth, to the day they lose their last, a child’s smile goes through SO many changes in the first few years of their lives! Some changes can be physically painful, while others may be figuratively painful as the awkward toothless years create smiles resembling happy little jack-o-lanterns. The idea of the Tooth Fairy celebrates these moments in a fun way by encouraging children to be brave and face the unknown, while never losing their sense of whimsy and imagination — not to mention, that discovering something shiny and new under your pillow makes it all worthwhile. Thanks, Tooth Fairy, we owe ya’ one!
References:
“National Tooth Fairy Day” │ https://nationaltoday.com/national-tooth-fairy-day/