Did you know that fairies, elves, sprites and pixies live in, around, under and between every nook and cranny in the world? You might not know this because mostly they keep themselves hidden, doing their work quietly, silently.
These little folk help to make the world a shinier, more beautiful place. The Meadow Fairies paint the colours into the flowers and polish the ears of corn, the Woodland Elves wax the mushrooms. Earth Pixies shine the gems in the Goblin Mines. The Sprites of the sea make the shells sparkle. Tree Fairies sing to bring out the blossom in the springtime.
Fairies, elves, sprites and pixies sprinkle their magic dust, wherever they go and whatever they’re doing.
When their work’s done at the end of the day they gather together around the fire for their evening feast, to dance and sing until Queen May and Grandfather Sun let them know it’s time for bed.
Many, many moons ago there was a little Woodland Fairy called Tatiana – her friends called her Tatti, – who cleaned and swept the nooks and crannies of their home. She was playful and cheeky, she sang as she worked and worked as she sang.
Tatti loved listening to the birds singing about their adventures. She was so curious about the stories that one day she told her family and friends, whom she loved very much, that she was setting off on her own adventure to see for herself!
She flew up and away from Dingle Dell for the very first time.
Tatti flew with the birds. Blackbird sang about the meadows, Sparrow twittered about the the fields, robin told her about a secret garden and Woodpecker told her about the forests. Tatti wanted to visit them all, but when Seagull spoke to her of the sea that excited her the most!
Everywhere she went she was welcomed by her fairy cousins.
They gifted her tiny presents, a tiny petal; a gem stone, an ear of corn, a blueberry, a wonders of the world herself that she said goodbye to her of gold. Tatti stayed a while, thanked them all then continued towards the sea.
One particularly chilly day she flew and flew to keep warm, until she too tired to go on. Seagull ket her rest on his back until he brought her down into a large garden. Tatti could taste sea salt on her lips.
In the house a mother was baking cakes in the kitchen, the smell was delicious. Tatti flew in through a crack in the door and sat quietly on the table watching.
She heard a tinkling bell and looking up saw a little girl, in a white and blue dress, covered in flowers… The woman gave the little girl a kiss help her hand as they climbed the stairs
It was Poppy’s bedtime. Tatti followed.
One of Poppy’s baby teeth had fallen out and she’d hidden it under her pillow for safe keeping. Mummy tucked Poppy in bed until Poppy’s eyes closed.
Sleep Babushka Sleep
Drift off into the deep
Your dreams will hold you through the night
And guide you back to the morning light
Sleep Babushka Sleep
Mummy tiptoed out of the room Poppy sat up in bed and reached for her tooth.
Little Tooth are you going to stay?
Little Tooth are you going away?
Where do you go to? What do you do?
Oh how I wish, how I wish I knew
Poppy put the tooth back under her pillow and fell fast asleep.
Tatti sprinkled fairy dust all over Poppy, her bed, pillow and on the tooth too. Poppy smiled in her sleep as she saw the fairy in her dreams.
Very gently Tatti took the tooth and carefully replaced it with a shining circle of silver, given to her by the Fairy Clan of the mines. When Poppy woke in the morning she’d know that her wish had come true.
Tatti flew in the darkness towards the beach and the sea.
‘Grandmother Moon, Grandmother Moon’ called Tatti in a whisper ‘Please take this special tooth and look after it for Poppy’.
Tatti floated the tooth across the sea.
Grandmother Moon had been hiding but when she heard Tatti she scooped up the tiny tooth and placed it in the night sky. It began to twinkle and shine and light the darkness. Grandmother Moon was so delighted she asked Tatiana to find other similar tiny teeth to join this one.
And that my darling is how Tatiana became the very vey first tooth fairy, all those moon times ago.
And if you happen to look up into the night sky, when you’re cleaning your teeth, maybe you’ll see all those baby teeth safe and shining and twinkling.