The word “tinsel” has a subtle allure. The word itself has a nearly six-century history, but most people only give it a thought once a year, usually while untangling a knotted strand from last December’s box. Its Old French origin, estincele, which means sparkle, still seems appropriate. Fundamentally, the word “tinsel” refers to eye-catching light.
These days, the term “tinsel” mostly describes those long, glossy strips that are draped over mantelpieces or wrapped around Christmas trees. It is described in dictionaries as thin, glittering strands of material, typically made of plastic or metal, that mimic the appearance of ice or icicles. However, that simplistic definition conceals a far more bizarre tale. The first form of tinsel was made of shredded silver and was created in Nuremberg circa 1610. Actual silver. The kind that irritated the person who had to polish it and tarnished in a matter of weeks.
Tinsel had a completely different life before it ever came into contact with a Christmas tree. The term was first used in the 16th century to refer to lightweight fabrics woven with gold or silver thread that were used in royal wardrobes, masque costumes, and heraldic banners. In 1502, Elizabeth of York purchased “tynsell satin”. When Mary I of England was crowned in 1553, she wore a veil made of tinsel. A 1443 Norwich court document describes a man by the name of John Gladman as the “King of Christmas” who rode through the town while his horse was stuck in tyneseyle. The sound, the cold, the flicker of metallic thread in winter sunlight—you can practically picture it.
Luxurious fabric gave way to mass-produced ornament gradually, then all at once. By the early 20th century, tinsel was suddenly affordable enough to hang on any regular tree, aluminum had supplanted silver, and France was leading the world in production. Because copper was required for the war effort, the First World War caused a brief disruption. Then came the 1950s, when the popularity of tinsel garlands actually surpassed that of Christmas lights, in part because tinsel was not a fire hazard while aluminum trees were. It’s difficult to ignore how frequently the history of a decoration is also the history of people’s fears.
There is also a darker chapter. Lead foil was used to make tinsel for many years because it didn’t tarnish and maintained a lovely sheen. Citing worries about lead poisoning in children, the FDA quietly put pressure on producers to cease making it after 1971. It was never officially outlawed. They simply made it disappear. The majority of accounts claim that modern tinsel, which is primarily made of PVC film with a metallic coating, doesn’t drape nearly as well as the older variety. It’s likely that anyone who recalls the heavier hair from the 1960s and 1970s will concur.
Interestingly, tinsel also has a second meaning that is practically the antithesis of celebration. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, it’s something that appears exciting but is actually quite cheap underneath, usually related to the entertainment industry or a flashy lifestyle. “The show was all tinsel and glitter.” The word has a somewhat sneering, disapproving meaning. This dual meaning may be the reason for tinsel’s peculiar durability. It can sometimes refer to both wonder and fakery in the same sentence.
Rows of military medals are referred to as Lametta in Germany. In a well-known Loriot sketch from 1977, a grandfather bemoans, “Früher war mehr Lametta”—there used to be more tinsel. The phrase turned into a proverb, implying that things used to be better. which, in some way, seems appropriate. Looking back, capturing light, and acting as though winter isn’t quite so gloomy have always been important to Tinsel.
