Apparently, today, November 11, is World Origami day!
A bit on the history of origami:
It is generally accepted that paper was invented around 105 A.D. in China. The Japanese first used paper during the sixth century. It is true that other cultures engaged in various forms of paper folding, but it was the Japanese who first discovered the possibilities associated with using paper as a medium for art.
When origami was first practiced, however, it was a craft only for the elite. Japanese monks folded origami figures for religious purposes. Origami was also used in various formal ceremonies, such as the practice of folding paper butterflies to adorn sake bottles at a Japanese couple’s wedding reception. Tsutsumi, folded paper gift wrappers, were used in some ceremonies to symbolize sincerity and purity. Tsuki, folded pieces of paper accompanying valuable gift, are another example of ceremonial paper folding since these models would act as a certificate of authenticity.
As paper became more affordable, common people began making origami figures as gifts or creating folded cards and envelopes for their correspondence.
Origami also started to be used as an educational tool, since the folding process involves many concepts that are relevant to the study of mathematics.
Fall 2015 Foundations 