Tinsel
Encyclopedia
Tinsel is sparkling decorative material that mimics the effect of ice or icicles. When in long narrow strips, it emulates icicles. It was originally a metallic garland
for Christmas decoration
. The modern production of tinsel typically involves plastic, and is used particularly to decorate Christmas tree
s. It may be hung from ceilings or wrapped around statues, lampposts, and so on. Modern tinsel was invented in Nuremberg
, Germany
, in 1610, and was originally made of shredded silver
.
According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary, the word is from the Old French
word estincele, meaning “sparkle”.
Tinsel was invented in Nuremberg
around 1610. Tinsel was originally made from extruded strands of silver. Because silver tarnishes quickly, other shiny metals were substituted. Before the 16th century, tinsel was used for adorning sculptures rather than Christmas trees. It was added to Christmas trees to enhance the flickering of the candles on the tree. Tinsel was used to represent the starry sky over a Nativity scene.
Metallic tinsel was fragile and costly, made mainly from fool's gold (pyrite). Only wealthy people would have been able to afford enough tinsel to cover their tree. By the early 20th century, manufacturing advances allowed cheap aluminium-based tinsel. During the 1950s, tinsel and tinsel garlands were so popular that they frequently were used more heavily than Christmas lights (tinsel was much less of a fire hazard than lights were for the then-popular aluminum Christmas tree
s). A drawback of the aluminized paper is that it is flammable. Early Christmas tree lights were quite hot and could start fires, especially when the aluminized paper tinsel got near a hot Christmas tree bulb. Newer Christmas lights are cooler and pose less fire hazard. Recent tinsel is almost all made out of extruded polyvinyl chloride
(PVC). This material is much less flammable than the aluminized paper.
Tinsel used to include lead, which caused the strands to hang better from the branches. This was eventually removed due to safety concerns.
Garland (decoration)
A garland is a decorative wreath or cord, used at festive occasions, which can be hung round a person's neck, or on inanimate objects like Christmas trees. Originally garlands were made of flowers or leaves.-Etymology:...
for Christmas decoration
Christmas decoration
A Christmas decoration is any of several types of decorations used at Christmastime. The traditional colours of Christmas are pine green , snow white, and heart red. Blue and white are often used to represent winter, or sometimes Hanukkah, which occurs around the same time. Gold and silver are...
. The modern production of tinsel typically involves plastic, and is used particularly to decorate Christmas tree
Christmas tree
The Christmas tree is a decorated evergreen coniferous tree, real or artificial, and a tradition associated with the celebration of Christmas. The tradition of decorating an evergreen tree at Christmas started in Livonia and Germany in the 16th century...
s. It may be hung from ceilings or wrapped around statues, lampposts, and so on. Modern tinsel was invented in Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, in 1610, and was originally made of shredded silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
.
According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary, the word is from the Old French
Old French
Old French was the Romance dialect continuum spoken in territories that span roughly the northern half of modern France and parts of modern Belgium and Switzerland from the 9th century to the 14th century...
word estincele, meaning “sparkle”.
Tinsel was invented in Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
around 1610. Tinsel was originally made from extruded strands of silver. Because silver tarnishes quickly, other shiny metals were substituted. Before the 16th century, tinsel was used for adorning sculptures rather than Christmas trees. It was added to Christmas trees to enhance the flickering of the candles on the tree. Tinsel was used to represent the starry sky over a Nativity scene.
Metallic tinsel was fragile and costly, made mainly from fool's gold (pyrite). Only wealthy people would have been able to afford enough tinsel to cover their tree. By the early 20th century, manufacturing advances allowed cheap aluminium-based tinsel. During the 1950s, tinsel and tinsel garlands were so popular that they frequently were used more heavily than Christmas lights (tinsel was much less of a fire hazard than lights were for the then-popular aluminum Christmas tree
Aluminum Christmas tree
An aluminum Christmas tree is a type of artificial Christmas tree that was popular in the United States from 1958 until about the mid-1960s. As its name suggests, the tree is made of aluminum, featuring foil needles and illumination from below via a rotating color wheel.-History:Aluminum Christmas...
s). A drawback of the aluminized paper is that it is flammable. Early Christmas tree lights were quite hot and could start fires, especially when the aluminized paper tinsel got near a hot Christmas tree bulb. Newer Christmas lights are cooler and pose less fire hazard. Recent tinsel is almost all made out of extruded polyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride, commonly abbreviated PVC, is a thermoplastic polymer. It is a vinyl polymer constructed of repeating vinyl groups having one hydrogen replaced by chloride. Polyvinyl chloride is the third most widely produced plastic, after polyethylene and polypropylene. PVC is widely used in...
(PVC). This material is much less flammable than the aluminized paper.
Tinsel used to include lead, which caused the strands to hang better from the branches. This was eventually removed due to safety concerns.