Transparency Note: Manny the Penguin is currently building a castle out of ice cubes. He is the King. We are the peasants. This post helps you celebrate! It contains affiliate links, meaning if you buy through them, I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I truly love.
Albert Einstein once said, "If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales."
This Thursday, February 26, is Tell a Fairy Tale Day.
In a world of screens, tablets, and instant gratification, the ancient art of storytelling is a lost superpower. Fairy tales teach us that monsters are real, but they also teach us that monsters can be beaten. Whether you are 5 or 55, we all need a little reminder that the glass slipper fits and the beanstalk can be climbed.
Here is how to bring the magic back to bedtime (without turning on the TV).
Why We Celebrate: The "Oral" Tradition
Long before Netflix, people sat around fires and told stories. These weren't just for entertainment; they were survival guides. "Don't go into the woods alone" became Little Red Riding Hood. "Be kind to strangers" became Beauty and the Beast.
The Big Why: We celebrate because imagination is a muscle. If you don't use it, it atrophies.
3 Ways to Make Today Memorable
1. The "Theater" Experience (The Activity)
Reading a book is great. Putting on a show is better.
-
The Move: Turn off the lights.
-
The Amazon Find: Nighttime Shadow Puppets (Castle Set)
-
Why we love it: Complete Puppet Theater Kit Comes with bamboo sticks and adhesive glue dots for easy attachment. You simply shine a flashlight (or your phone) against a blank wall and use the puppets to cast giant shadows of dragons, knights, and princesses. It turns a boring bedroom wall into a cinema. It is simple, battery-free magic.
2. The "Heirloom" Volume (The Book)
Paperback books get torn. Fairy tales deserve a binding that lasts for generations.
-
The Move: The Definitive Collection.
-
The Amazon Find: Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales
-
Why we love it: This book is a work of art. It has gold-edged pages, a leather cover, and stunning illustrations. It contains the real versions of the stories (The Little Mermaid is... different than the movie, trust us). It feels heavy and important in your hands. It’s the kind of book a child will keep until they are 80.
3. The "Screen-Free" Storyteller (The Tech)
Sometimes, parents are too tired to do the voices. Let the box do it.
-
The Move: Audio Magic.
-
The Amazon Find: Toniebox Audio Player Starter Set.
-
Why we love it: This is a soft, padded cube with no screen. Kids place a little figurine (a "Tonie") on top—like a Disney Princess or a generic Creative-Tonie—and it instantly starts telling a story or singing songs. It gives children autonomy over their listening without handing them a smartphone. It is arguably the best invention for modern parenting.
The "Zero Dollar" Hack: The "Exquisite Corpse"
If you don't have a book handy, make one up.
-
The Game: "Pass the Story."
-
The Method: Sit in a circle.
-
Person 1 starts: "Once upon a time, there was a frog who wanted to fly..."
-
Person 2 adds: "...but he didn't have wings, so he built a jetpack out of soda cans."
-
Person 3 adds: "...and the soda cans exploded, launching him into a giant bowl of soup."
-
-
The Rule: You have to accept whatever the person before you said. "Yes, and..." is the only rule.
The Perfect Gift for the Dreamer
If you want to dress the part, skip the itchy polyester costumes.
Our Editors' Pick:
Great Pretenders Reversible Dragon/Knight Cape
Why we love it: It’s two costumes in one. One side is a shiny, scaly dragon; flip it inside out, and it’s a brave knight with a shield emblem. It’s essentially a cape, so it fits over regular clothes easily (and fits for years as they grow). It’s machine washable, which is the real magic trick.
Perfect for: The kid who can't decide who to be.
Get the Reversible Dragon Cape on Amazon
Join the Conversation
We need to know your favorite villain.
Who is the scariest Fairy Tale baddie?
(The Big Bad Wolf? The Evil Queen? Or the Witch with the candy house?)
Manny is terrified of Captain Hook (birds and hooks don't mix).
Tell us your pick in the comments on Instagram or TikTok and tag us @OnManyOccasions!
Don't Miss the Next Celebration
February is ending! Do you know when National Retro Day is? (It’s literally tomorrow, Feb 27!).
Download our Free 2026 Celebration Calendar and never miss a fun holiday again.
0 comments