February 28th (or August 22nd – no one seems able to agree on a single date) is National Tooth Fairy Day, an unofficial holiday but one meant to celebrate an important childhood figure: the Tooth Fairy.

In this pocket you will find
A teensy, tiny tooth of mine.
So while I sleep where dreams are made,
Let’s see if you can make a trade.
—Anonymous

When a child loses a baby tooth, it’s customary to place the tooth under their pillow (or in a special box or pouch). When they sleep at night, the Tooth Fairy takes away the tooth, leaving money or another reward in its place.

The exact origin of the Tooth Fairy  is unknown, though suspected to derive at least in part from a French fairytale, La Bonne Petite Souris (“The Good Little Mouse”) by Marie-Catherine d’Aulnoy. In 1894, Luis Coloma’s children’s book about El Ratoncito Pérez (a tooth fairy mouse) became a beloved part of Spanish folklore.

The most amazing thing about the Tooth Fairy? According to “tooth fairy economics,” her rewards have kept pace with inflation for decades!

Know a child who’s lost a tooth? Commemorate the event with a custom “Lost a Tooth” greeting card from Greeting Card Universe. Our fun, colorful, humorous designs will help turn a special event into a celebration!

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