Origami is a Japanese art form, the word is derived from the Japanese ori meaning "folding", and kami meaning "paper".
The traditional paper crane is probably the most famous of all origami models. It’s designed after the Japanese red-crowned crane. In Japanese mythology this crane is known as the “Honourable Lord Crane” and it wings carried souls up to heaven.
An ancient Japanese legend promises that if anyone folds a thousand paper cranes they will be granted a wish by the gods. In same cases you are granted happiness or good luck.
In Japan the crane is said to live for 1,000 years which is why one must fold 1,000 of them. You have to keep all the cranes to get the wish though. If you fold one and give it away that one doesn’t count.
The origami crane’s popularity is largely due to a children’s book written by author Eleanor Coerr called "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes". You can find out about her story below.
After you have made your own crane, try some of the other fun origami animals, or find your own from the many tutorials online. Origami paper can be made from A4 paper or spare magazines etc or is readily available online.