Tell a Fairy Tale Day

Tell a Fairy Tale Day is an annual American holiday dedicated to the timeless magic of fairy tales. This beloved genre lets us escape reality for a while, following the adventures of characters whose stories deliver valuable lessons. Fairy tales often bring comfort, understanding, and hope—where characters learn from mistakes, bad deeds are punished, and goodness prevails. The holiday is celebrated on February 26.

History

There is no official record of how Tell a Fairy Tale Day began. Most likely, it was created by someone with a deep love for fairy tales, hoping to encourage more people to enjoy these classic stories. While fairy tales are often seen as children’s literature, they have always appealed to adults as well—offering a way to relax, reminisce, and escape the stresses of everyday life.

Fairy tales date back as early as the 600s B.C., with Aesop, the famous Greek storyteller-slave, credited with some of the first short, cautionary tales. Every culture has its own fairy tales, inspired by local traditions and folklore. Today, there are endless stories featuring dragons, castles, fairies, wizards, dwarves, and talking animals. Characters like Winnie the Pooh show how fairy tales can charm all ages.

Interesting Facts

• The world’s most famous fairy tale authors include Hans Christian Andersen, Charles Perrault, Rudyard Kipling, and Astrid Lindgren.
• “Bread stories” appear in many cultures. In Germany, there’s the tale of the “escaped pie,” while in the United States, kids know the “Gingerbread Man,” famously featured in *Shrek*.
• The Brothers Grimm collected and adapted folk tales from around the world rather than inventing them from scratch.

How to Take Part

On Tell a Fairy Tale Day, read fairy tales to your children or revisit your favorites for a dose of nostalgia and stress relief. Search online for new or unfamiliar tales—you might discover a hidden gem!

Consider writing your own fairy tale. Use your imagination to create a magical story, and share it with others.

Share the holiday on social media. Ask others about their favorite fairy tales and see how many people are still inspired by these classic stories.

When is Tell a Fairy Tale Day in 2026?

Tell a Fairy Tale Day is observed on February 26 each year.

Observations