Born on January 12
Charles Perrault's Birthday
Once upon a time, in Paris.
Next: January 12, 2027
Where it comes from
Charles Perrault was born in Paris on 12 January 1628, and this Story marks his birthday. A lawyer by training, he worked as an official in charge of the king's buildings and became a leading member of the Académie Française. In his late sixties he turned to old folk tales, retelling them simply to amuse children.
How it's celebrated
There is no formal observance, but his birthday is a perfect excuse to read a fairy tale aloud, at bedtime or in a classroom, and to compare Perrault's version with the film you know.
Did you know
Each of Perrault's tales ends with a moral, written in verse.
Read the full story of Charles Perrault's Birthday
Star sign
Capricorn · December 22 – January 19 · Earth sign
Patient and ambitious, climbing steadily to the top.