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The Art of Origami

Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding and is a great way to practice mindfulness during these uncertain times. Below are interesting facts about origami, as well as videos and step-by-step instructions how to make a diamond and a fox. For instructions on a variety of origami projects visit this page.

Interesting Facts about Origami

  • The Guinness Book of World Records has lots of records in the art of origami. Some of these include an object that has been created with a maximum number of folds, the smallest and biggest objects, as well as the fastest time for folding 100 cranes.
  • Before the name “origami”, which is derived from the Japanese words “oru” (to fold) and “kami” (paper), the art was called “orikata” which means folded shapes.
  • The origami crane is an international symbol of peace. The world’s largest crane was created in 1999 by an organization called “Wings for Peace” and measured 215 feet tall and weighed 1,750 pounds. Made entirely from paper, the jumbo crane had to be made inside of a football stadium because of its size.
  • 150,000 paper cranes were created as part of the 50th anniversary of the dropping of the atom bomb on Hiroshima. This is the largest amount of origami cranes ever created at the same time.
  • Samurai in Japan gave each other paper folded with a strip of fish called “noshi” which was considered a good luck token.
  • While in space in June 2003, astronauts did origami and stuck it to the window.
  • In 2003, the British Origami Society and David Brill created the assembly of the longest origami train. They invited origami enthusiasts from all over the world to send paper train cars, a total of 1,550 were collected, to make a 254 metre long train.
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