1. History

2. Figurative use

3. Other uses

4. See also

5. References

Tinsel is a type of decorative material that mimics the effect of ice, consisting of thin strips of sparkling material attached to a thread. When in long narrow strips not attached to thread, it is called "lametta", and 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 trees. 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 Modern tinsel was invented in Nuremberg, Germany, in 1610, and was originally made of shredded silver.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”.

History

Tinsel was invented in Nuremberg around 1610.^[1] Tinsel was originally made from extruded strands of silver.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.{{citation needed|date=December 2011}}

By the early 20th century, manufacturing advances allowed cheap aluminium-based tinsel, and until World War I, France was the world leader in its manufacture. Production was curtailed during the First World War as a result of wartime demand for copper.^[2]

During the 1950s, tinsel and tinsel garlands were so popular that they frequently were used more than Christmas lights, as tinsel was much less of a fire hazard than lights were for the then-popular aluminum Christmas trees, which were made from flammable aluminized paper.{{citation needed|date=December 2011}}

Modern tinsel is typically made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film coated with a metallic finish.^[5] Coated mylar film also has been used.^[3] These plastic forms of tinsel do not hang as well as tinsel made from heavy metals such as silver and lead.^[5]

Figurative use

Germans refer to a row of military Awards and decorations as Lametta (German for tinsel), similar to dressing in full regalia or with a high level of formality. The expression was coined earlier to describe the appearance of Hermann Göring, e.g. in a Chanson by Claire Waldoff, Rechts Lametta, links Lametta, Und der Bauch wird imma fetta (right tinsel, left tinsel, and the belly gets immense).^[6]

Humorist Loriot's 1977 film Weihnachten bei Hoppenstedts about a family Christmas involved a Prussian educated grandfather humming the Helenenmarsch with "ra-da-buff" and deploring the lack of tinsel („Früher war mehr Lametta!“ "There used to be more tinsel!" has become proverbial).^[7]

Other uses

Tinsel has many traditional uses in India, including decorations on images, garlands for weddings and other ceremonies, and ornamental trappings for horses and elephants.^[8] Tinsels of various types are popular materials used in fly tying.{{cn|date=February 2017}}

See also

• Legend of the Christmas Spider
• Chaff (countermeasure)

References

• Phyllostomid
• Phyllotacis
• Phyllota phylicoides
• Phyllothallia
• Phyllothalliaceae
• Phyllotis anitae
• Phyllotis bonariensis
• Phyllotis darwinii
• Phyllotis limatus
• Phyllotopsis
• Phyllotopsis nidulans
• Phyllotreta striolata
• Phyllovates
• Phyllovates chlorophaea
• Phylloxera epidemic
• Phylloxera vastatrix
• Phylloxiphia
• Phylloxiphia bicolor
• Phylloxiphia formosa
• Phylloxiphia goodi
• Phylloxiphia goodii
• Phylloxiphia illustris
• Phylloxiphia karschi
• Phylloxiphia metria
• Phylloxiphia oberthueri