Fairy godmother facts for kids
In fairy tales, a fairy godmother (French: fée marraine) is a fairy with magical powers. She acts like a mentor or a parent figure to someone. This is similar to how a real godparent was expected to help in many societies.
The fairy godmother is a special helper in many stories.
Fairy Godmothers in Classic Tales
Fairy godmothers are not found in every fairy tale. However, they became very well-known because of popular writers like Charles Perrault. He wrote famous versions of stories like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.
Many other magical helpers appear in fairy tales. These can include talking animals or the spirit of a kind, deceased mother. Some stories connect fairy godmothers to ancient figures who decided people's destiny. This is seen in Sleeping Beauty, where they help decide the princess's future.
In these tales, the fairy godmother often helps a prince or princess. She uses her magic to support them. The most famous example is the fairy godmother in Charles Perrault's Cinderella. She helps Cinderella go to the ball.
In Perrault's Sleeping Beauty, eight fairy godmothers appear. In the Brothers Grimm' version, Little Briar Rose, thirteen wise women act as godmothers. These popular stories made fairy godmothers a common idea, even if they are not in every tale.
It's interesting that Perrault added fairy godmothers to The Sleeping Beauty. They were not in the original story by Giambattista Basile. Fairy godmothers are usually shown as kind, gentle, and loving characters.
Fairy Godmothers in Modern Stories
Fairy godmothers often appear in modern fairytale fantasy stories. They are especially common in funny versions or retellings of Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.
- In The Rose and the Ring by William Makepeace Thackeray, the fairy Blackstick learns that her gifts did not help her godchildren. She gave two goddaughters a magical ring and rose that made them beautiful. But these gifts ruined their personalities. For the next prince and princess, she gives them "a little misfortune." This turns out to be the best gift, as their challenges help them grow.
- In The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis, Uncle Andrew says his godmother might have had fairy blood. He suggests he might have been the last person to have a fairy godmother.
- The animated TV series The Fairly OddParents is a funny show. It features two rather silly fairy godparents named Cosmo and Wanda.
- In the movie Shrek 2, the fairy godmother is not kind. She is a clever businesswoman who wants her son, Prince Charming, to marry a princess and become king.
- The Discworld novel Witches Abroad also has a scheming fairy godmother. She tries to control a city using the power of stories.
- In Disney's The Princess and the Frog, Mama Odie is a wise, old Voodoo queen. She acts as Tiana's "Fairy Godmother of the Swamp." She uses good magic to fight against dark voodoo.
- In the film Maleficent, Princess Aurora mistakenly thinks Maleficent is her fairy godmother. This is because Maleficent has been watching over her since she was little.
See also
In Spanish: Hada madrina para niños
