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Christmas

Is tinsel old hat now?

(85 Posts)
Diggingdoris Tue 11-Dec-18 20:49:46

I notice that all the decorated trees in shops, magazines, online etc.are all tinsel free. Also the posh trees seem to be smothered in baubles with no room for tinsel.
What are my fellow gransnetters doing this year?

grannybuy Wed 12-Dec-18 13:20:43

DD2 and 3 DGC take their bay tree in a tub indoors and decorate it. At first, I felt sorry for the DGC, not having a Christmas tree, however they are delighted with it, and this year it really is looking rather nice.

grandtanteJE65 Wed 12-Dec-18 13:27:00

I still use the very thin tinsel that used to be called lametta.

I know there are concerns as to whether it is ecologically friendly, but as I keep it from year to year and always make sure it is all off the tree before it goes out, I don't bother about that.

If you like tinsel, then it doesn't really matter if others cal it "old hat!, does it. To me a Christmas tree doesn't look finished without it.

The photo is last year's tree, as this year's doesn't go up til the 22nd.

breeze Wed 12-Dec-18 13:48:15

Love what my son has done. When their first child was born they bought a bauble to celebrate baby's first Christmas. And when second child was born the same. Ditto second Christmas, then as soon as they were old enough the children chose their own bauble for the tree. So as the years go by, each year will be remembered by the bauble they chose. He has an interesting selection however, as the rules are that the child has a completely free rein to choose. So he has a small yellow plastic duck hanging on his tree each year! confused

LuckyFour Wed 12-Dec-18 14:20:59

I do have tinsel but I know it's old hat. Don't really care. I'd have to go out and buy a lot more baubles if I didn't use the tIntel. I try to be a bit colour co-ordinated, without much success.

Gonegirl Wed 12-Dec-18 14:27:19

Can anyone else remember the "thin" tinsel (as I call it) from way back when. When did tinsel become so big and bushy? And garish. It as always so much daintier. It seemed to happen quite suddenly in about the eighties. I'm afraid my old strands are becoming a bit hairless now. Wish I could still buy it.

I don't mean lametta.

Gonegirl Wed 12-Dec-18 14:34:09

Like this. www.etsy.com/uk/listing/663708437/vintage-blue-and-silver-tinsel-garland?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=tinsel+garland&ref=sr_gallery-1-11 But it didn't cost that much!

Willow10 Wed 12-Dec-18 15:14:44

A tree should reflect your own individual taste, whatever that might be. Not some so-called designer's idea of what they think it should be! I go the traditional route with red and gold - hate the blue and purple fad. Having said that my great grandaughters tree is bright pink! confused

leeds22 Wed 12-Dec-18 15:36:57

No tinsel for me this year. Must get the tree out instead of gransnetting.

Mercedes55 Wed 12-Dec-18 16:02:45

No tinsel on my tree either, must be over 30yrs since I last used it. I just like a real tree with white lights and silver and white decorations on it smile

Blue45Sapphire Wed 12-Dec-18 16:20:43

I usually have tinsel on my tree, but when DS went up into the loft to get the decorations down, he must have missed the bag of tinsel, and I didn't notice till I'd started to decorate the tree the next day. Didn't like to ask him to come down specially again, so went to the shops and instead of tinsel found strings of gold beads (3x50 ft, and 3 boxes for £2 in Poundland!). They look absolutely beautiful, don't think I'll bother with tinsel again.

JanaNana Wed 12-Dec-18 17:21:52

Our tree not going to up until this weekend but will have plenty of tinsel on it. To me it completes the look with all the rest of the tree decorations we have collected over the years. Coloured lights as well, definately not the sophisticated look. Have some decorations that go on it which the children made at school and the fairy for the top, bought 50 years ago in Woolworths.

Legs55 Wed 12-Dec-18 17:35:47

Tinsel on tree, used to have beads & lametta as well when we had a big tree in a large Lounge. Now I have a tall, slim tree I can't go overboard as much, the tinsel goes on thoughthlgrin. I like baubles that evoke happy memories.

Can't have lametta as I have a cat (it's tempting & they tend to eat it)

My tree has never been tastefulthlblush

Urmstongran Wed 12-Dec-18 18:01:59

Who else remembers the concertina paper Chinese lanterns with silken tassels that used to go over the (always) coloured lights in the late 60’s? The style police would have a hissy fit nowadays!

stevej4491 Wed 12-Dec-18 18:25:58

Collected over fifty years, last year I decided what did'nt go on the tree were getting offloaded. I'm glad I did,it only took me half an hour to dolly the tree up this year ,as so it will be evermore. Daughter nor grandchildren wanted the excess so I gave them to people who were decorating trees for charity. Never thought I would ever get rid of any really,I was so attached to them, but hey ho.

Chewbacca Wed 12-Dec-18 18:30:11

I remember them Urmstongran! And the paper strips that you had to lick the ends of to make chains that you had strewn across the ceilings! It all seemed so exciting when we all sat together to make those! Happy memories!

Grandmama Wed 12-Dec-18 18:44:20

Isn't tinsel supposed to be like glitter and bad for the environment? There's yards of tinsel in our Christmas decorations box but bah humbug, it's staying in the box this year. Just can't be bothered and the only visitors over Christmas will be our small, immediate family. The crib will come out as usual, though.

EthelJ Wed 12-Dec-18 20:13:42

I have lots of decorations that I have accumulated over the years some with very happy memories from when my children were small. Not colour coordinated at all. No tinsel but I do have some laments which looks pretty.

EthelJ Wed 12-Dec-18 20:16:19

Sorry meant lametta (predictive text changed it).

olliebeak Wed 12-Dec-18 20:50:12

I'm a 'Gold and Cream' kinda gal!

My tree is 'pre-lit (warm white) with snow-effect' - once it's branches are all opened out, there is only space for one length of tinsel. However, I DO have some 'gold patterned, stiffened ribbon' that I twist inbetween the branches.

Also rather fond of my Christmas Ornaments and Candle Holders. The Grandkids also love the musical figures and that moved/dance. I don't put anything on the ceiling

SueDonim Wed 12-Dec-18 21:30:11

My girls like to choose a theme for Christmas each year. This year apparently is vintage woodland creatures. I'm achieving that by getting out all the usual baubles and then adding in a few tacky plastic, from pound shops woodland creatures. grin

My Dh saw some decorations recently and commented how he liked them. I told him that we had very similar ones, and had had them for well over ten years and they'd beennused frequently. He claims he's never set eyes on them!!

glammagran Wed 12-Dec-18 22:33:25

I really like the turquoise, green and very dark pink baubles being sold at John Lewis this year. Sadly cant justify a change so back to gold and red as per the last 4 decades.

GabriellaG54 Thu 13-Dec-18 02:22:02

I looked twice before reading your claim about the tree skirt being crochet. Oh dear! I'd get lynched if I did anything remotely like that, tinsel n all. shock

GabriellaG54 Thu 13-Dec-18 02:24:17

olliebeak
8/10. Too pale.grin

GabriellaG54 Thu 13-Dec-18 02:32:26

Well done Witzend, it looks HUGE and puffy with plenty of balls baubles blush 9/10

GabriellaG54 Thu 13-Dec-18 02:38:45

Willow500
A feast for the eyes...er...7/10 for the white one (too naice) and 10/10 for the colour crash tree. Just like mother used to make. grin