Tooth fairies are very unusual indeed. They come under the cloak of darkness, steal away the discarded teeth of children, and in their place, leave some form of compensation—usually in the form of money. They are also flying creatures that have received their own day: National Tooth Fairy Day.

This holiday, which is celebrated on August 22nd and February 28th annually, is a day on which all of us can appreciate the little creatures who do all the things they do for dental hygiene.

The History of National Tooth Fairy Day

National Tooth Fairy Day is a holiday that was created by Katie Davis—an author and entrepreneur. Most people won’t notice, however, that this day is celebrated not only on February 28th every year but also on August 22nd every year.

That’s because the American Dental Association recommends that people get their teeth cleaned every six months—and these two observance days are spaced to help remind people of that fact.

The History of the Tooth Fairy

This day wouldn’t be possible without the enigmatic little creature at the heart of it: the tooth fairy. This fictional being can be traced back to the 1920s. This is when Esther Watkins Arnold wrote an eight-page playlet for children in 1927. This 3-act playlet first introduced the tooth fairy to parents for the first time.

However, although she practically invented the tooth fairy out of thin air, the author undoubtedly based the being on the fairies that appeared in myths and legends for thousands of years. The English word “fairy” comes from the Early Modern English word “faerie,” which means “realm of the fays.”

However, this early English word can actually be traced further back than that to the Old French word “faierie” and even further back than that to the word “faie,” which was derived from Latin. In Old French legends, the faie, fee, or fay were skilled in magic and knew how to work with nature in a way that enabled them to make powerful magic items, potions, or amulets.

Just about every culture in Europe had tales about these wee little magical folk. In Christian mythology, they were considered to be demonic entities, but in other religious traditions, they were seen as angels. Over the years, they’ve also been considered by some to be elementals, as a prehistoric race of hidden peoples, or as spirits of the dead.

And they were changed to fit the customs and the attitudes of the people telling their tales. Today, fairies are used to sell everything from cereal to television shows and movies. The tooth fairy is just the latest incarnation in a long line of fairy stories.

How to Celebrate National Tooth Fairy Day

The easiest way to celebrate this holiday is by making a semi-annual dental exam on this day. People can also spend the day reading tooth-fairy-related books such as “How To Trick The Tooth Fairy” by Erin Danielle Russell, “Dear Tooth Fairy” by Alan Durant, or “Tooth Fairy in Training” by Michelle Robinson.

Participants of this observed holiday can also use the hashtag #NationalToothFairyDay on social media to spread the word about it.