Origami Day Activities

Folding origami can be a great source of daily calm, not to mention dexterity, but some days make for an even better reason to fold paper. The WOD (World Origami Days) annual festival starts on 24th October every year and culminates in Origami Day on 11th November, celebrated as Origami no Hi (折り紙の日) in Japan and all over the world.

This is the perfect reason to celebrate the art of paper folding and join in on the festivities.

Ideas for Celebrating Origami Day

Folding some paper yourself, with friends, or teaching others how to fold have always been in the spirit of the Origami Day celebrations. Here are some more specific ideas you can try.

1. Hold an Origami Workshop

Conduct a short and approachable origami workshop for beginners. You don’t have to be an expert at it and know the models without reference.

Teach yourself a few simple models and then go through some folding videos together with friends, helping them where you can, since you’ve tried these before.

Origami workshops work better as collaborative exercises. Lean into it.

2. Fold a Thousand Paper Cranes

Folding 1000 cranes is good luck, so why not do it yourself? Bring together a group of people and fold 1000 origami cranes together. Beyond the luck it may bring and the wishes it may grant, it’s a fun party!

3. Learn About Origami Bases

The origami bird base is a classic, and can act as a gateway into the art of folding. Learn the origami bird base, and then figure out other models you can make from the same starting point. Teach them to people. Folding from a common base can greatly expand your understanding and appreciation of the craft.

4. Watch A Documentary About Paper Folding

Watch an origami documentary film, or watch several. Have a private film festival!

To go with those, maybe do a fun show-and-tell on the various modern uses of origami techniques, from robotics to space exploration.

5. Let the Children Fold and Play

Get a class in school to make a simple origami model of their choice following books or videos and get them to decorate it with art materials.

Starting with origami as a base to build on and play with can make it a lot more fun for younger folders and watch their imagination conjure the most wonderful variations.

6. Let the Paper Planes Fly

Teach a mixed group of adults and children how to make several types of paper airplanes. Make sure they fly them and play with them, because that is the entire point!

7. Let Origami Float Your Boat

Please fold a paper boat. Especially as an adult. Please find a place to get it to float, even if it is in a sink. Enjoy that simple pleasure.

8. get Modular

Learn a simple origami module and how it can be assembled into complex geometric modular origami. It might look intimidating at first but the magic moment it all comes together is absolutely worth the struggle.