It's a common misconception that tinsel is a fairly modern introduction to Christmas decorations, but it was actually invented in Nuremberg in around 1610. Prior to the 16th century, tinsel was used for adorning sculptures rather than Christmas trees. It began to be used on trees to reflect the twinkle of candles and lights. Tinsel has been adorning homes up and down the country at Christmastime for decades. It's one of the most iconic elements for festive decor although, sometimes, unfortunately it gets a bit of a bad reputation for being outdated or, dare I say it, tacky! This is, of course, an outrageous claim as you really can not go wrong with a good quality string of tinsel, especially when it is available in an array of colours, styles and lengths to suit every requirement!