February 28 is National Tooth Fairy Day.This day celebrates one of childhood’s make-believe visitors.Others include Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.The Tooth Fairy comes in the middle of the night after a child loses a milk tooth.Parents tell the child to put the tooth under his or her pillow and in the morning they will find some money from the Tooth Fairy.Of course, in reality, parents sneak into the room and replace the tooth with the cash.This part of growing up makes children worry a little less about losing a tooth.They are more excited about the Tooth Fairy’s visit and how much money she’ll leave.National Tooth Fairy Day is also a good day to make sure children understand the importance of brushing their teeth regularly.No one knows the real origins of the Tooth Fairy.It started in Europe hundreds of years ago and spread around the world.There are different traditions in other countries for when a child’s tooth falls out.In Japan, children throw a lower baby tooth up onto the roof so the next tooth grows healthily upwards;an upper tooth goes under the house so the new adult tooth grows downwards.Korea and Vietnam have similar customs.In parts of India, children wrap their milk teeth in cotton and offer it to the sun.
