Origami, the ancient art of paper folding which began in China but grew to incredible popularity in Japan, is one of the oldest and most practiced forms of art today. Without a doubt, the most well known form of origami is the crane. This one form has so many things tied to it that it deserves it’s own place in the history of art.

Back in Japan, a long time ago, the crane represented loyalty, honor and love and because of this, the origami crane has always held a great significance to the Japanese people as well as people all over the world. Presenting a gift of an origami crane was considered to be a very special thing and was always appreciated.

One piece of lore surrounding the crane involved the creation of 1,000 cranes by a single person. If someone were able to do this, it was said they would be granted one special wish. Many people used this to gain the love of another or for victory in battle. Recently, an organization wanted to create one million cranes as a sign of world piece and they didn’t just make the goal; they beat it by over 200,000 cranes!

The crane is also very much used at weddings as a way to wish the happy couple a long and happy life together. Using the cranes as decoration, centerpieces and even as artwork is large groups is not an uncommon theme. The gifts are even more important when they are crafted by those who are either attending the wedding or when made by the bride and groom themselves.

The origami crane has survived over a thousand years and its design has not really changed at all nor has the importance and significance of the form. Learning to create this piece of origami is a must if you plan on delving into this time-honored art form.