Paper folding originated in China once it was invented in the first and second century AD. People in China started folding paper into various shapes and designs. During the sixth century the secret of paper spread to Japan along with the paper folding art. In Japan paper was very scarce and only the rich could afford paper. There for only the rich would do paper folding. As paper was being traded it became more abundant and affordable so the rich and the poor started doing Origami.

During the same time paper folding was being spread to Japan, it was also being spread to the West. The Moors (Muslims from North Africa) brought paper folding into Spain when they invaded in the eighth century. The Moors were very good in making geometric figures. From Spain the art of paper folding spread to South Africa. A man named Friedrich Froebel introduced an ornamental paper folding to his students in Germany in 1782-1852. Later the art of Paper folding spread to the United States during the 1900’s.

The art of paper folding is called “Origami.” In Japanese the word “Oru (Orimasu)” means to fold, and the word “kami” means paper. Put together the word means to fold paper.

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