Tinsel used to be real aluminum foil shredded into strips, with the consistency of cobwebs and the ability to wrap themselves around everything it touched. These days it’s faux-metallic, MILSPEC, NASA-approved Mylar that still tangles itself, but it’s impossible to break.
Oh, and it comes in a package that requires another tool to open – the dreaded Impervious Clamshell Container.
I switched to tinsel garland years ago. It’s easier to wrap it around the tree & unwrap & store for the next year & not strands around for months clogging the vacuum. Although this year my husband got me a Roomba (for Hannukah). It really GREAT.
My mom still has tinsel so old it’s made from lead. She doesn’t use it anymore. I remember hanging and taking it down each year, strand by strand carefully because it broke so easily.
I remember my mother insisting it be hung one strand at a time. I could only stand doing it 2 or 3 at a time. then one year I looked at it and decided it wasn’t all that pretty anymore. sigh,…there went the tradition.
My parents told stories about having one of the few tinseled trees during WWII. Metal was rarioned but my grandparents saved and reused tinsel from earlier years.
stairsteppublishing about 6 years ago
Tradition and many memories
Templo S.U.D. about 6 years ago
you’re in denial, mister… just throw away the tinsil and purchase more
flyertom about 6 years ago
Tinsel used to be real aluminum foil shredded into strips, with the consistency of cobwebs and the ability to wrap themselves around everything it touched. These days it’s faux-metallic, MILSPEC, NASA-approved Mylar that still tangles itself, but it’s impossible to break.
Oh, and it comes in a package that requires another tool to open – the dreaded Impervious Clamshell Container.
WDemBlk Premium Member about 6 years ago
I switched to tinsel garland years ago. It’s easier to wrap it around the tree & unwrap & store for the next year & not strands around for months clogging the vacuum. Although this year my husband got me a Roomba (for Hannukah). It really GREAT.
Breadboard about 6 years ago
Just go with it ! Part of Christmas is using the same stuff over and over again :o)
Red Phantom about 6 years ago
My mom still has tinsel so old it’s made from lead. She doesn’t use it anymore. I remember hanging and taking it down each year, strand by strand carefully because it broke so easily.
car2ner about 6 years ago
I remember my mother insisting it be hung one strand at a time. I could only stand doing it 2 or 3 at a time. then one year I looked at it and decided it wasn’t all that pretty anymore. sigh,…there went the tradition.
flemmingo about 6 years ago
I don’t think you can buy it anymore? Haven’t seen it in any stores for years.
sheilag about 6 years ago
Pluggers as a comic strips tends to trend towards “Pluggers are SOOO broke and/or CHEAP they reuse dollar store tinsel”… ;-)
IndyMan about 6 years ago
Haven’t seen ‘tinsel’ in the stores for ages—do they still make it ???
ajr58 about 6 years ago
My parents told stories about having one of the few tinseled trees during WWII. Metal was rarioned but my grandparents saved and reused tinsel from earlier years.