I’m celebrating the departure of 2020 (Year of the Rat) and welcoming the Year of the Ox with an irresistible paper craft. After gathering a few simple supplies and watching an origami video, I was able to create a folded book corner for 2021’s Lunar New Year. Simple instructions follow – but first a brief history of the Lunar New Year from Pinterest:
Celebration of Luck, Health, and Togetherness
“Marking the first new moon of calendars traditional to many East Asian countries, Lunar New Year is a multi-day celebration of luck, health and togetherness celebrated by billions of people around the world. February 12 marks this year’s festivities, beckoning in the Year of the Ox according to the Chinese zodiac. And while this year’s celebrations may be at home this year, the rich traditions of this holiday aren’t going anywhere.”
How Lunar New Year Came To Be
“The legends behind the Lunar New Year date back thousands of years. The tale goes that at the beginning of each new year, there was a monster that attacked a village. The monster was afraid of loud noise, bright lights and the color red, so the villagers banded together to scare it off by hosting loud celebrations and wearing red. Each year is represented by a different animal, the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac, with this year represented by the ox, which symbolizes patience and cheerfulness. The Chinese zodiac has been adopted by many countries throughout Asia. Lunar New Year is celebrated in a variety of ways across different Asian cultures. For example, in China, the celebration is often called the Spring Festival, in Tibet it’s known as Losar, and in Vietnam, it’s called Tết. It’s widely celebrated amongst the Asian diaspora all over the world, making it a truly global holiday.” https://www.pinterest.com/today/article/how-to-celebrate-lunar-new-year-2021/64041/
Supplies
- Printed and cut-out origami square
- Printed and cut-out ox features
- Printed and cut-out tassel strips
- 2 – 3 inch pieces of yarn or thin ribbon
- 2 – 2 inch pieces of yarn or thin ribbon
- Glue
- Glue stick
- Scissors
Directions
- Print template’s front square, flip paper and print back on same page.
- Cut out red square from the printed page.
- Fold origami bookmark using photo guide or YouTube video link
- Cut out nose, ears, head flower, nose ring, horns and tassel strips.
- Clip tassel strips as shown in photo (below).
- Glue nose beneath eyes, making sure not to glue the pocket opening. Glue the nose ring to the nostrils.
- Gently pinch each ear on the tip and glue to the back side of the head.
- Glue the horns slightly above the ears.
- Glue the head flower over the printed flower.
- Make the tassels by putting a dot of glue on the left and right, unclipped edge of each strip. Place the tip of a 3-inch piece of yarn or thin ribbon in the glue with the remaining length going up and away from the unclipped edge. Repeat for the second strip. Tightly roll each strip lengthwise. Pinch for a few seconds to allow the glue to take hold. Put a dot of glue on the top, unclipped part of the tassel and wrap with a 2-inch piece of yarn or thin ribbon. Glue the end and repeat for the second tassel. Tie the tassels together at the top and glue the knot to the back side, center of the head.
