02/29/2024
Today, we note the FIRST of two annual observations of – a tradition MILLIONS of parents know well! However, despite the designation as "National" we think maybe it should be INTERNATIONAL. And our own Founder recently celebrated this rite of passage when his young son lost his first tooth, we're reminded this is observed WORLDWIDE!
In North America, England, Portugal, Denmark & Australia, the tale of the tooth fairy is fairly straightforward. When a child loses a tooth, they place it under their pillow that night. The tooth fairy comes while they sleep, so when they wake up they’ll find a monetary payment.
However, in South America & Spain, but they have a mouse called Ratoncito Perez. When a child loses a tooth, they will place it underneath their pillow for El Raton de Los Dientes to collect overnight, leaving a small gift in exchange.
The French take a different approach, with La Bonne Petite Souris, a tiny mouse who collects the lost teeth in exchange for gifts like sweet treats or money. Children in South Africa have a similar tradition by placing a lost tooth inside a slipper for a gift from the Tooth Mouse.
And throughout the Middle & Far East, the rituals are much more symbolic...and involved! Middle Eastern children throw their lost teeth up to the sky and ask the sun to send them strong adult teeth. Whereas, in the Pacific Rim instead of receiving money for their baby teeth, many children toss them around for good luck! When children lose a tooth from their upper jaw, they throw it on the ground or put it below the floor, while teeth lost from their lower jaw are thrown onto the roof, with the hope that straight new teeth will grow in correctly toward the old teeth. Some children will even make a wish as they throw each tooth that the strong tooth of a mouse will replace their lost tooth!