No matter how long you have lived in this world, you have no doubt heard of the beautiful art of origami. However, do you know where origami originated or when World Origami Day is celebrated? Let us consider several of the origami facts before we start making our own creations.
What is origami?
The word Origami comes from two Japanese words: Ori – Folding and Kami – Paper. It consists of folding squares of paper into various objects and does not include usage of either scissors or knives.
Is origami Chinese or Japanese?
Even though Japan is credited with founding the art of origami in about the 6th century, it is very probable that its original roots could be found in China. It is also suspected that the actual folding, for which origami is known, was first applied to other materials, for example, leather and cloth, before paper was invented.
Is origami easy to learn?
Origami is a very easy type of art to learn. It is relatively inexpensive as it doesn’t require anything else but paper. Whether you are 5 or 50 or even 100 years old, learning this art can keep you occupied for hours and bring you much joy.
What are the benefits of doing origami?
Some of the main benefits specifically for preschool and kindergarten age children include but are not limited to:
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- Developing eye-hand coordination
- Developing fine motor skills
- Learning to concentrate
- Understanding and practicing sequencing
- Building a foundation to math skills
What is the simplest origami to make for kids?
In 12 Origami Projects for Kids, Patricia Barnes shares simple origami projects for kids and provides easy-to-follow video tutorials. These projects include a fish, a butterfly, a flower, a boat, a house, and others. Give them a try!
You may also find 10 Simple Origami Projects for Beginners by The Spruce Crafts very inspiring.
What day is World Origami Day?
As origami became very popular in the entire world, in order to celebrate it, World Origami Day was set for November 11th each year. On this day many origami groups from around the world offer both online and in-person classes, make video tutorials, and hold special origami exhibitions.
How can you celebrate World Origami Day?
There are many ways your family and friends can celebrate World Origami Day. Following are just a few ideas:
- Learn more about origami: See a NASA Physicist’s Incredible Origami.
- Watch Origami Story – Many Paper Hats.
- Make your own origami creations.
