Froebel star explained

A Froebel star (German: Fröbelstern) is a Christmas decoration made of paper, common in Germany.[1] In English it does not have a commonly recognised name; it can be referred to as an Advent star, Danish star, German star, Nordic star, Pennsylvanian star, Polish star, Swedish star, Christmas star, or Froebel star.[2] It is also sometimes called a Moravian star, though the Moravian star is a general category of geometrical shapes and the sixteen tipped piece of origami is specifically called the Froebel star.[3]

Description

The three-dimensional Froebel star is assembled from four identical paper strips with a width-to-length proportion of between 1:25 and 1:30.[2] The weaving and folding procedure can be accomplished in about forty steps. The product is a paper star with eight flat prongs and eight cone-shaped tips. The assembly instructions can be aborted midway, producing a two-dimensional eight–pronged star without cones.[4]

Crafting Froebel stars originates in German folklore. Traditionally the stars would be dipped into wax and sprinkled with glitter after being folded. The star can be considered a form of origami,[5] because it is made of identical paper sheets and assembled without glue.[6] However, as it combines folding with weaving it is more a "fringe" subject of origami.[3]

History

The Froebel star carries the name of the German educationist Friedrich Fröbel (1782–1852), founder of the Kindergarten concept. He encouraged the use of paper folding in pre-primary education with the aim of conveying simple mathematical concepts to children.[4] [7] It is, however, likely that Froebel did not invent this item and that it had already been within the realm of general knowledge for a long time. Froebel did encourage paper folding as an activity for young children and he popularised discourse about children's activities, which is how his name and the folding instructions might have become related.[7] [8]

Descriptions of how to fold a Froebel star date back to at least the 19th century.[9] In Germany the name Fröbelstern has been the common name for this paper decoration since the 1960s. It is used as an ornament on Christmas trees and wreaths, and to make garlands and mobiles. Froebel stars are very common in Germany,[10] although few people know how to make them.[2] [11]

References

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Er bastelt 'Sterne der Hoffnung', um Freude zu schenken. He makes 'Stars of Hope' in order to give joy. 7 November 2009. Hamburger Abendblatt. German.
  2. Web site: Fröbelstern. Köller. Jürgen. 1999. mathematische-basteleien.de. German. 16 December 2011.
  3. Web site: Strip Folding. Origami Resource Center. 19 December 2011.
  4. Web site: TUC Adventskalender 2000 - Weihnachtsland Erzgebirge. CUT Advent calendar 2000 - Christmas country Ore Mountains. Geisler. Hildegard. December 2000. Chemnitz University of Technology. German. 16 December 2011.
  5. News: Mit einem Fröbelstern fing alles an. It all started with a Froebel star. Thiemig. Hannah. 12 November 2009. Weser-Kurier. German. 17 December 2011. 1 May 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120501111751/http://www.weser-kurier.de/Druckansicht/Bremen/Stadtteile/Seehausen/61922/Mit+einem+Froebelstern+fing+alles+an.html. dead.
  6. Web site: History of Origami. Hatori Koshiro. K's Origami. 19 December 2011.
  7. Book: Wiggin. Kate Douglas. Smith. Nora Archibald. Froebel's Occupations. 1900. Houghton Mifflin & Co.. 214–225. 9781440060250 .
  8. Web site: The Swedish Star. Lister. David. British Origami Society. 16 December 2011.
  9. Book: Barth. E. Niederley. W. Des Kindes erstes Beschäftigungsbuch. The Child's first Activity Book. German. 4. 1891. Velhagen & Klasing. 24 and title page.
  10. News: Weihnachtsausstellungen. Sterne und Krippen. Christmas exhibitions. Stars and cribs. 16 December 2009. Frankfurter Rundschau. German.
  11. Web site: Friedrich Froebel created Kindergarten and designed the Froebel gifts and blocks. Froebel Web. 21 December 2011.