Tinsel can be unfriendly to pets and kids. Credit: damselfly58, Flickr
The first tinsel was made from real silver, and was originally used to reflect light from candles placed on the Christmas tree (a tradition that the advent of the electric light has entirely done away with).
Tinsel came into fashion around 1610 in Germany, the country where
Christmas trees themselves originated. Silver was hammered out and cut into thin strips to hang on the tree. But real silver tarnished, and so a set of tinsel rarely lasted more than one season. Metal tinsel was used until the early 1900's and because of the expense, was seen as a
status symbol.
Today's tinsel is made of a synthetic material called PVC and due to its environmentally unfriendly nature (it can be harmful if ingested by pets or children and is generally impossible to recycle) it has gone largely out of style.
Looking for more ways to bling up your Christmas tree? Get inspired by ShelterPop's gallery of past White House trees.
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Beautiful Christmas Decorations
Gold and Silver Icicle Ornaments
Hang these icicles from the tips of Christmas tree branches, where they can imitate the real thing.
Make This Ornament
Martha Stewart Living
From beaded ornaments to sparkling tree toppers, we've compiled our prettiest Christmas crafts and decorating ideas to dress up your home during the holidays.
Shimmering Stocking
A shining snowflake and a beaded garland are stitched to a stocking to give the classic childhood chimney decoration a sophisticated adult look.
Make This Decoration
Martha Stewart Living
Gold and Silver Icicle Ornaments
Hang these icicles from the tips of Christmas tree branches, where they can imitate the real thing.
Make This Ornament
Martha Stewart Living
Pink and Silver Floral Bouquet
Icy dewdrops -- actually sprays of clear beads -- deliver glimmers of brightness to an arrangement of silvery faux branches.
Make This Bouquet
Martha Stewart Living
Leonian Wire Flower Ornament
This beaded flower resembles a pretty snowflake. Display it on a tree or hang it above the table.
Make This Ornament
Martha Stewart Living
Doily-Trimmed Basket Ornament
This wood-veneer basket looks lovely hung from -- or positioned below -- a holiday tree.
Make This Craft
Martha Stewart Living
Opulent Orbs
Fill the plastic balls for your pink Christmas tree with butterflies, beads, or a handful of glitter. Then tie a ribbon around each to hide the seam and create a loop for hanging. "Fillable" balls, from $1 each, sunshinecrafts.com
Martha Stewart Living
'Tis the season to bake, decorate and celebrate! Visit MarthaStewart.com to plan the ultimate Christmas celebration.
Martha Stewart Living
DUDE,12-13-2009, 7:31AM
NOW TINSEL IS "OUT OF STYLE" BECAUSE IT'S NOT "ECO FRIENDLY!!??" WHERE DOES IT END?? I HAVE HAD TINSEL ON MY TREE SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID. I WILL CONTINUE TO USE TINSEL UNTIL THE TREE HUGGERS GET IT BANNED TOO!!!!
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Martha,12-13-2009, 8:39AM
I am growing a plant that has been around for ages but now it can be grown indoors year round.
It's called the Tickle Me Plant. The leaves instantly fold and even the branches droop when you Tickle It!
(Http://tiny.cc/Ticklemeplant)
Great gift idea. See video
fengweiyaobairen,12-13-2009, 8:46AM
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Liz,12-13-2009, 6:27PM
Some pets are inclined to eat tinsel. While I've never seen a child do it, I did have a cat once that had a fondness for tinsel--she never got seriously ill, but she did have her sick moments. And although as a child I was not a 'biter' my brother was, and he would put anything he came across in his mouth (although rarely swallowed anything) so I do understand the concerns of the author, although since my old cat digested tinsel at times, I'm not sure if she's misinformed, or is thinking of something else on that point.
As for you using tinsel on your tree? Go ahead, no one's going to try and stop you. It's just a decorating decision--the only things you have to take into account are if it will look good on the tree, if your family agrees on it, and if you have children or pets in danger of eating it. If you do, children can be taught, and pets can be trained, or you can just put the tinsel on the upper levels.
The 'tree-huggers' as you call them, as far as I know they're not advocating for it to be banned, although I may be wrong on that point as I've not studied the matter in depth.
So go ahead, put tinsel on the tree. I find it pretty myself, in moderation.
peppa,12-13-2009, 9:07AM
GRANTED, TINSEL IS VERY NICE, HOWEVER, IF YOU HAVE PETS, IT CAN BE VERY HARMFUL.... OR EVEN FATAL IF SWALLOWED... BE CAREFUL !
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KNJ,12-13-2009, 11:00AM
olll olllll Peppa be careful! you might trip over your own feet olll olll and hit your stupid head even stupider!
TINSEL RULES! TINSEL FOREVER!!
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james,12-13-2009, 11:39AM
Growing up, having family that worked in metal shops, we had real tinsel. Made from tin, hence the name tinsel, aluminum, steel, and silver, they were polished to mirror finishes in strips 4 to 5 inches long, 3/16 inch to 1/4 inch wide, and 1/8 inch thick. Also, if you have pets eating the fake stuff, you shouldn't have pets in the first place, and unless the pet tries to digest enough to kill itself, it would be an amount that could kill a human. The fake tinsel is not poisoness, but it could choke you if you stuffed a whole box down your throat in less than 2 seconds. This is all the problem of careless, gluttoness, and selfish people. I never had a pet eat this stuff. I took care of my pets. PC has gone too far.
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Sal,12-13-2009, 1:18PM
This author sounds like an uninformed tree hugger who does not care properly for her pets or children.
PVC is not toxic if injested, and can be recycled as easily as any other plastic/polymer product.
Here is a good link about it and other recycled products: http://www.earthodyssey.com/symbols.html
It is relatively inert and is used for everything from food and drug packaging the water well screens and water pipes.
The biggest threats would be choking if a pet or child tried to eat it, or strangulation if they somehow got it tightly wrapped around their necks.
In my 56 years, I have never seen any pet or child try to eat tinsel.
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Jamey,12-13-2009, 5:31PM
You can still find plenty of tinsel at your local Walmart or Kmart. The reason it's not stylish anymore is because, eh, styles changes. It's nothing to do with political correctness or concern for pets eating the stuff. The fact is, a lot of folks consider the stuff tacky and they wouldn't dare put it on their tree anymore than they would put big plastic Noel candles in their front yard. Sorry, but that's the truth.
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Carol,12-13-2009, 2:43PM
Tinsel is pretty to look at but it is a mess to clean up- it clogs the vacuum cleaner and when you have little children they can and do eat it. I have raised 5 children and we had dogs, cats, birds and a ferrit-- I probably didn't worry to much about the pets eating it as I did the mess of finding it all over the place. My kids and yes the pets All survived the tinsel--and I got over the mess.
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basketpam,12-13-2009, 3:14PM
People, can we just shoot those who think like this and put the rest of us out of our misery? Now we're suppose to choose our tree decorations based on their recyclability? People, you're not suppose to throw them away every year! I have decorations in my home 40 years old, they've been handed down from person to person. People who have the time to sit around and think of all this dumb stupid stuff should just get a life, they have too much time on their hands, that, or their panties have been in a bunch too long. I've worked with or been around those type of people who have to analyze everything to death before they buy it, wear it, eat it, watch it, or breath it. They're the biggest pain in the butt you can find. They manage to take the joy out of everything. I once worked in an office where I think over half of them were like that. There were times I just wanted to scream, Christmas was one of them. They made doing or choosing anything a nightmare. Aside from that, I'm not personally fond of the tinsel, the type you wrap around the tree. I just don't think it's attractive. However, icles on the other hand, I LOVE. I know they're a pain, you can't have them on an artifical tree, that's one reason I have a real tree each year. Now I have a golden retriever and the first couple of years I had her I didn't use them. The tree just wasn't the same. But now I know her well enough and know she won't eat them. Lucy is an excellent dog and she knows what's hers and what's mine and she doesn't touch what she shouldn't. But I do agree you need to be careful around pets. I know more than one dog or cat that will eat anything they can get their paws on and yes, icles could be deadly for them. But if you're like me and love them, just buy a good vacuum cleaner. They're no worse than the pine needles. And tree huggers, LEAVE US ALONE to enjoy our decorations and memories from childhood we love.
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