Ratoncito Pérez
Encyclopedia
The Ratoncito Pérez is a figure popular in Spanish and Hispanic American cultures, similar to the tooth fairy
, originating in Madrid
in 1894. As is traditional in some English-speaking countries, when a child loses a tooth it is customary for him or her to place it under the pillow, so that Ratoncito Pérez will exchange it for a gift. The tradition is almost universal in Spanish cultures, but takes different forms in different areas. He is known as "Ratoncito Pérez" in Spanish speaking countries, with the exception of some regions of Mexico, Peru and Chile, where he is called "el Ratón de los Dientes" (The Tooth Mouse), and in Argentina, Venezuela, Uruguay and Colombia, he is known simply as "El Ratón Pérez".
The Ratoncito Pérez has been used in by Colgate
marketing in Venezuela, stars in the 2006 movie El Ratón Pérez
, and appeared in the tale of the Vain Little Mouse
.
In 1894, Coloma was contracted to write a story for Alfonso XIII, who had just lost his tooth at the age of 8. Coloma's story follows Ratoncito Pérez who lived with his family in a box of cookies in Madrid
, but frequently ran away from home through the pipes of the city, and into the bedrooms of children who had lost their teeth. The story details how Ratoncito Pérez cunningly misleads any cats in the vicinity who may be lurking, and includes his interaction with King Buby (Queen Maria Cristina's nickname for Alfonso XIII).
The city council of Madrid paid tribute to Ratoncito Pérez with a commemorative plaque outside the warehouse where the mouse was said to have lived. The plaque reads: "Here lived, in a box of cookies, Ratoncito Pérez, according to the story that the father Coloma wrote for the young King Alfonso XIII. Ratoncito Pérez thus became the first fictional character honored with a plaque by the Madrid City Council. Coloma's original manuscript, with his signature and a dedication to King Alfonso XIII, is now located in the vault of the Royal Palace Library.
In 2006, the story was filmed under the title El Ratón Pérez
(or Perez, the mouse of your dreams), directed by Juan Pablo Buscarini. The Ratoncito Pérez has been used in by Colgate
marketing in Venezuela, and the character appeared earlier in the tale of the Vain Little Mouse
.
Other adaptations include El ratoncito Pérez by Olga Lecaye (1999), La mágica historia del Ratoncito Pérez by Fidel del Castillo (1996), ¡S.O.S., salvad al ratoncito Pérez! by Eduardo Galán (1995), and «Ratoncito Pérez», en Vuelo de Cometas. by Vicenta Fernández Martín (1999).
Tooth fairy
The tooth fairy is a fantasy figure of early childhood. The folklore states that when a child loses a baby tooth, if he or she places it beneath the bed pillow, the tooth fairy will visit while the child sleeps, replacing the lost tooth with a small payment....
, originating in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
in 1894. As is traditional in some English-speaking countries, when a child loses a tooth it is customary for him or her to place it under the pillow, so that Ratoncito Pérez will exchange it for a gift. The tradition is almost universal in Spanish cultures, but takes different forms in different areas. He is known as "Ratoncito Pérez" in Spanish speaking countries, with the exception of some regions of Mexico, Peru and Chile, where he is called "el Ratón de los Dientes" (The Tooth Mouse), and in Argentina, Venezuela, Uruguay and Colombia, he is known simply as "El Ratón Pérez".
The Ratoncito Pérez has been used in by Colgate
Colgate (toothpaste)
Colgate is an oral hygiene product line of toothpastes, toothbrushes, mouthwashes and dental floss.-Duraphat:Duraphat is a professional strength paste intended for the treatment and prevention of dental caries....
marketing in Venezuela, stars in the 2006 movie El Ratón Pérez
El Ratón Pérez
El Ratón Pérez is a 2006 Argentine film directed by Juan Pablo Buscarini, starring Delfina Varni, Nicolas Torcanowsky and the voices of Alejandro Awada as Ratón Perez, Mariano Chiesa as Commander Fugaz and Roly Serrano as El Rata. The film includes 3D animated characters created by the Patagonik...
, and appeared in the tale of the Vain Little Mouse
The Vain Little Mouse
-Variants:There are many variants of this tale. In some versions of the tale the she-mouse is seduced by the answer of the cat, who sweetly meows when asked what he'll do at night...
.
Origin
A mouse named Ratón Pérez first appeared in "Cuentos, oraciones, adivinanzas y refranes populares" (1877), as the husband of "La Ratita Presumida" (The Vain Little Mouse). This character would later inspire Luis Coloma, who would make him part of the Spanish traditional folklore by turning him into a sort of Tooth Fairy.In 1894, Coloma was contracted to write a story for Alfonso XIII, who had just lost his tooth at the age of 8. Coloma's story follows Ratoncito Pérez who lived with his family in a box of cookies in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, but frequently ran away from home through the pipes of the city, and into the bedrooms of children who had lost their teeth. The story details how Ratoncito Pérez cunningly misleads any cats in the vicinity who may be lurking, and includes his interaction with King Buby (Queen Maria Cristina's nickname for Alfonso XIII).
The city council of Madrid paid tribute to Ratoncito Pérez with a commemorative plaque outside the warehouse where the mouse was said to have lived. The plaque reads: "Here lived, in a box of cookies, Ratoncito Pérez, according to the story that the father Coloma wrote for the young King Alfonso XIII. Ratoncito Pérez thus became the first fictional character honored with a plaque by the Madrid City Council. Coloma's original manuscript, with his signature and a dedication to King Alfonso XIII, is now located in the vault of the Royal Palace Library.
Adaptations
Coloma's original story has been retold and adapted in various formats since it was published in the early 1900s. One such retelling was by Lady Moreton entited "Perez the Mouse", which she published 1915 and attributed to Coloma.In 2006, the story was filmed under the title El Ratón Pérez
El Ratón Pérez
El Ratón Pérez is a 2006 Argentine film directed by Juan Pablo Buscarini, starring Delfina Varni, Nicolas Torcanowsky and the voices of Alejandro Awada as Ratón Perez, Mariano Chiesa as Commander Fugaz and Roly Serrano as El Rata. The film includes 3D animated characters created by the Patagonik...
(or Perez, the mouse of your dreams), directed by Juan Pablo Buscarini. The Ratoncito Pérez has been used in by Colgate
Colgate (toothpaste)
Colgate is an oral hygiene product line of toothpastes, toothbrushes, mouthwashes and dental floss.-Duraphat:Duraphat is a professional strength paste intended for the treatment and prevention of dental caries....
marketing in Venezuela, and the character appeared earlier in the tale of the Vain Little Mouse
The Vain Little Mouse
-Variants:There are many variants of this tale. In some versions of the tale the she-mouse is seduced by the answer of the cat, who sweetly meows when asked what he'll do at night...
.
Other adaptations include El ratoncito Pérez by Olga Lecaye (1999), La mágica historia del Ratoncito Pérez by Fidel del Castillo (1996), ¡S.O.S., salvad al ratoncito Pérez! by Eduardo Galán (1995), and «Ratoncito Pérez», en Vuelo de Cometas. by Vicenta Fernández Martín (1999).
See Also
- Tooth FairyTooth fairyThe tooth fairy is a fantasy figure of early childhood. The folklore states that when a child loses a baby tooth, if he or she places it beneath the bed pillow, the tooth fairy will visit while the child sleeps, replacing the lost tooth with a small payment....
- HammaspeikkoHammaspeikkoHammaspeikko, Finnish for "tooth troll", is a metaphorical device for explaining tooth decay to children, akin to the Tooth Fairy. Eating candy lures tooth trolls, which drill holes into teeth and look scary. Brushing the teeth scares them away...
- Finnish tooth troll - Spanish folklore
- El Ratón PérezEl Ratón PérezEl Ratón Pérez is a 2006 Argentine film directed by Juan Pablo Buscarini, starring Delfina Varni, Nicolas Torcanowsky and the voices of Alejandro Awada as Ratón Perez, Mariano Chiesa as Commander Fugaz and Roly Serrano as El Rata. The film includes 3D animated characters created by the Patagonik...
Further Reading
- Lainez, Rene Colato (2010). The Tooth Fairy Meets El Raton Perez. Illustrated by Tom Lintern. ISBN 978-1582462967.
- Luis Coloma, Ratón Pérez (2000), with illustrations by Cruz Pintor
- José Manuel Pedrosa, The Secret History of the Ratón Pérez (2005)
External Links
- Ratón Pérez by Luis Coloma - original manuscript, provided by Project GutenbergProject GutenbergProject Gutenberg is a volunteer effort to digitize and archive cultural works, to "encourage the creation and distribution of eBooks". Founded in 1971 by Michael S. Hart, it is the oldest digital library. Most of the items in its collection are the full texts of public domain books...