What is Tinsel?
Although the word may sound a bit Germanic, we actually have the French to thank for the word tinsel, derived from an Old French word for sparkle or glimmer. Originally, tinsel was created from extruded strands of real silver, but the metal tarnished quickly and soon fell out of favor. Other metals were also used to create decorative strands of tinsel, although it was more likely to be found adorning a sculpture than a Christmas tree before the 16th century.
