Edited by Jane Rosemarin
Santa holding a crane. All photos by Mimi Nohara. Diagrams by Nathanael Maudo. See PDF diagrams.

The Santa Crane belongs to my Papá Noel series, begun in 2021. Editor’s note: We published another of Mimi’s Papá Noel diagrams last year.

A collection of Santas from the Papá Noel series.

I searched for more options and discovered an inverted fold on the back of the model, and that led me to see pre-marked lines to make the crane fold, which allowed me to obtain this new version. A 15 cm square produces a Santa 10.5-cm tall.

A mathematical visualization.

This model has a fun folding sequence and clear edges. The design avoids difficult steps; it can be folded with many types of paper and works in almost any size.

The Santa crane looks harmonious. I would have liked to find a crane with its wing raised, but it is quite good as it is.

This Santa Claus with a Japanese crane brings wishes for health, well-being, happiness and prosperity. Happy folding and Merry Christmas, dear folders!

Video Instructions