Origami Day Date in the current year: November 11, 2024

The art of origami is believed to have originated from Ancient China, where paper was invented, but its development is associated with Japan. The word “origami” is Japanese, it is translated into English as “paper folding”. Origami had become a significant aspect of Japanese ceremony by the Heian period (794–1185). According to legend, famous onmyoji (yin yang master) Abe no Seimei made a paper bird and turned it into a real one.

Traditional origami is made from a square sheet of paper without using scissors or glue. Although almost any kind of paper can be used for folding, the Japanese typically use special origami paper referred to as kami or traditional origami paper named washi. However, normal copy paper can be used for simple folds, such as the crane.

Origami was popularized in the West by Lillian Oppenheimer, an American origami pioneer. She is credited with popularizing the original term “origami” instead of its literal translation “paper folding”. Besides, Oppenheimer also created the non-profit Friends for the Origami Center, which has grown to become the largest origami organization in the United States named OrigamiUSA.

Origami Day was originally founded in Japan but it quickly became a worldwide observance. Some origami enthusiasts even celebrate World Origami Days which last for 2,5 weeks, from October 24 (Lilian Oppenheimer’s birthday) to November 11 (Origami Day).