[For Seniors] Easy Origami Recommended for Winter
As the seasons shift from autumn to winter, the days are getting chilly.
For many older adults, going out can start to feel like a hassle.
So this time, we’re introducing origami that’s perfect for winter.
There are lots of delightful designs to make, like winter flowers, snowmen, and New Year’s good-luck charms.
It’s also fun to make plenty and use them as wall decorations or hanging ornaments.
What’s more, fine motor activities that use the fingers can stimulate the brain and help prevent dementia.
Please enjoy making them together and have a wonderful time.
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[For Seniors] Easy Origami Recommended for Winter (1–10)
Narcissus and the Box
Daffodils, which bloom with delicate white or yellow flowers, can start flowering as early as December for early-blooming varieties.
Among older adults, some may count daffodils as one of their favorite winter flowers.
Let’s crease the origami paper and begin folding.
There are a few slightly complex steps, but older adults who are skilled at origami will find it a satisfying project.
If any older adults find the folding method difficult, please have people around them provide support.
By adding a stem to the origami daffodil and making a box to serve as a vase, you can also enjoy it as a lovely interior decoration.
Easily Made Kadomatsu
These days, it seems fewer companies and households display kadomatsu for the New Year.
A kadomatsu is a sacred placeholder used to welcome Toshigami, the deity of the New Year.
An yorishiro is an object where a divine spirit alights, and some older adults may value kadomatsu very highly.
This time, let’s fold a kadomatsu out of origami to help older adults feel the New Year spirit.
We’ll start by making the crease lines, then fold it into the shape of a kadomatsu.
Since the process uses the fingertips a lot, it can be expected to stimulate the brain.
Fold the fan and base as well, paste everything together, and it’s complete.
It’s a cute kadomatsu you can display in your room.
New Year’s decoration with a crane and a folding fan
New Year’s is one of the major events of winter.
Many older adults also regard New Year’s as an important tradition that has been passed down in Japan since long ago.
Here, we’ll introduce New Year-appropriate origami decorations that you can display at home.
Fold auspicious designs like fans and cranes, and arrange them on a backing board.
For New Year’s, we recommend using Japanese-style patterned paper.
Of course, origami that suits the season—such as daruma dolls or turtles—works just fine too.
As you make them, older adults are likely to enjoy the lively New Year’s atmosphere as well.
[For Seniors] Easy Origami Recommended for Winter (11–20)
Christmas ornament
While Christmas trees feature a variety of decorations, it’s the simple ornaments that really make the colors pop.
This piece highlights how indispensable these ornaments are and aims to accentuate the joy of the season through them.
The process involves adding a lattice of creases to origami paper and using those as a guide to shape it into a circle, with the folding method also creating a jagged pattern.
The finished piece looks simple, but it’s a craft that requires meticulous folding work.
celebratory crane
New Year’s is one of the major events that comes in winter, and people sometimes display lucky charms to wish for a better year.
Among these charms, let’s focus on the crane, a symbol of longevity, and make a three-dimensional crane mascot using origami.
The biggest difference from a regular origami crane is the shape of the wings.
By adding a clever twist to the folding process partway through, the wings spread out in a three-dimensional form.
Because the reverse side becomes visible when you spread the wings, it’s recommended to use origami paper that’s colored on both sides.
three-dimensional snowflake
Winter is the season when we see snow more often, and sometimes it freezes into intriguing shapes.
This content recreates that magical winter phenomenon—snowflakes—using origami, and the results seem perfect for decorations.
You’ll use origami paper cut into quarters, fold each piece into a triangle, make small cuts, then unfold it to form a snowflake-like shape.
Instead of using just one piece, layering and gluing separately made pieces together gives a more three-dimensional finish, which is highly recommended.
Kagami mochi
Kagami mochi is an essential New Year’s decoration, imbued with the meaning of welcoming Toshigami, the deity of the new year.
This project recreates kagami mochi with origami, making it easy to incorporate into your New Year’s decorations.
Fold the paper firmly, then open it to create steps, and round the corners to form the two-tiered mochi shape.
Once the mochi is shaped, attach the mandarin piece and decorative cord to finish.
You can also express your originality through how you choose to decorate it.