Every Christmas scene needs its reindeer, and this little paper deer might be the most satisfying one to fold. It isn't a flat cutout — it stands up, casts a shadow, and has just enough three-dimensional character to feel like the real animal (minus the red nose, unless you add one). The folding is a touch more involved than a quick holiday craft, but take your time with the creases and you'll end up with a sturdy figure that holds its pose. Make a few in graduated sizes and you've got an instant herd. Grab a square sheet, and let's give Santa some company.

Next to Santa Claus, the reindeer are the true stars of Christmas. The drawing shows a bright red nose, though real reindeer are usually dark-nosed — which is exactly why that red-nose image sticks in our minds. After forty years I still can’t tell deer and reindeer apart, but that hardly matters once paper is in hand. While putting up this year’s decorations, I decided to fold a whole herd of origami reindeer to keep last year’s Santa company. Here is a simple three-dimensional reindeer that turns out nicely realistic.

How to fold reindeer origami

There are many ways to fold reindeer origami. From super-simple objects that fold on a flat surface to three-dimensional objects.

This time, I tried to select a three-dimensional and realistic one among them. I think that the “reindeer feeling” has come out quite a bit.

This time I referred to this video, so let's fold it immediately!

STEP 1. Turn it over and make two diagonal creases.

STEP 2. Align the left and right corners along the center line at the bottom, make a crease, and put it back.

STEP 3. In the same way, align the left and right corners along the center line on the upper side, make a crease, and put it back.

STEP 4. Rotate the direction 90 degrees to the right.

STEP 5. Fold the left and right sides along the creases, leaving the central part.

STEP 6. Tilt the central part to the left.

STEP 7. Turn it over and fold it in half from bottom to top.

STEP 8. Fold the corner of the center part to the right so that it is vertically vertical, and make a forefoot.

STEP 9. Turn it over and fold the corner of the center part on the other side in the same way to make the forefoot.

STEP 10. Return to the original orientation and fold the left corner from the center to the upper side.

STEP 11. Fold the top corner down about 3.5 cm .

STEP 12. Open the folded tip and crush it along the crease.

STEP 13. Tilt the crushed part to the front and back to make a head.

STEP 14. Fold the tip of your head slightly inward as shown in the photo.

STEP 15. Fold the part to the right about 7 mm from the center crease upward so that it is vertically vertical.

STEP 16. Open the folded part and fold it upward in half.

STEP 17. Open the tip and tilt it downward, adjust it to the same height as the front leg, and fold the hind leg.

STEP 18. The hind leg is a single piece; use scissors to cut along the center line and split it into two hind paws.

STEP 19. After dividing into 2 , return the hind legs to their original positions.

STEP 20. Open the entire fuselage once and mark the intersection of the center line and the line connecting the upper and lower creases as shown in the photo.

STEP 21. Adjust the shape with scissors so that it is easy to cut, and make a cut from the mark to the base of the head.

STEP 22. Open the head part and make a cut with scissors on the center line of the cut part.

STEP 23. Put back the opened crease and fold the notched part upward.

STEP 24. Once the overall shape is in place, the reindeer is complete!

How did your reindeer turn out?

There are some points.

In the case of animal-based origami, there are many middle divisions such as when folding the torso or legs. If you fold the corners tightly, this will be beautifully completed.

On the contrary, if you fold it roughly, it will stand out when you split it in the middle (laughs)

Also, with this reindeer origami, it is difficult to adjust the length of the hind legs. Adjust it little by little and look at it according to your forefoot.