Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hi everyone.  Another Christmas topic people seem to have strong feelings about are the silver icicles for the tree. Personally I hate them. The dog eats them, the cat bats at them knocking ornaments off and they get all wrapped around the roller thing on the vacuum cleaner. Also, I see no point in spending time decorating a tree only to cover it up with icicles. My grandma puts so many boxes of icicles on her tree you really can't see the tree or ornaments.  She might as well have the same hideous silver tree from the 50s my other grandparents put up every year. My brother thinks a tree needs the icicles and I hate them. We compromised. Only 2 boxes of icicles and if he likes them he puts them on the tree.

What's your take on tree icicles?

I hate them too. Reminds me of the aluminum Christmas tree we had when I was a kid. It's just wrong.

I have mid-1960s memories in Southern California, an aluminum Christmas tree with pink chrome ornaments. 

Last year I looked into whether those are still available and they are.  Just enough weird people like me might want one. 

We used a color wheel on it and it changed colors as the lens rotated. But it had no smell, no falling needles, no need to put water in the stand. Just did not seem very festive. Then to top it off 99% of my Christmases were in 70 degree or above weather. Went to The Rosebowl in Jan wearing a t-shirt. My Bruins defeated Ohio State and Woody Hays.

Tinsel for the win! Um, unless you have cats and dogs. Nothing worse than a cat in full panic being chased by a piece of its own poop.  :laugh:

In Seattle growing up, we just went to the forest and got a tree.  Always had tinsel on it nicely draped never clumps.  We saved it year after year.  We had an ornament that a hot bulb from the lights would spin a propeller.  Loved that!  Couldn't use them after cool bulbs came out.
Never use tinsel now though.  I'm more of a garland gal now.
Merry Christmas, Jess 🤶

I like them on retro trees or trees out side with lights in them.

Quote from: DawnOday on December 09, 2017, 11:41:56 AM
We used a color wheel on it and it changed colors as the lens rotated. But it had no smell, no falling needles, no need to put water in the stand. Just did not seem very festive. Then to top it off 99% of my Christmases were in 70 degree or above weather. Went to The Rosebowl in Jan wearing a t-shirt. My Bruins defeated Ohio State and Woody Hays.

Ahh color wheel. I didn't know what it was called. My grandparents have that too. I think the reason my dad is into real Christmas trees so much is because my grandparents put up that aluminum thing every year when my dad was growing up. That's especially sad because my dad grew up in the 80s and early 90s which had to be way past the time those aluminum things were in style.

To me it wouldn't seem like Christmas if it was hot outside. For Tristan he finds it weird for it to be cold at Christmas. In Australia it's summer. That's still very weird to me. Lol

Tree??  (JK.  Or not)

When I was a young kid, we had a real tree with lots of tinsel on it.  Then, when I was a bit older, we had an artificial (green) tree, still with lots of tinsel on it.  Probably most of the same tinsel: we saved and re-used it.

It's been more than 40 years since I lived with my parents.  I have never put up my own tree.

OK I'll bite. What is an icicle? Sounds cold and probably unhealthy, something that should be confined to the more primitive parts of the world like ... north.

It's tinsel. They all talk funny...except me.  :laugh:

Quote from: Cindy on December 09, 2017, 02:43:43 PM
OK I'll bite. What is an icicle? Sounds cold and probably unhealthy, something that should be confined to the more primitive parts of the world like ... north.

Thin strands of silvery Mylar about 16" or so long.  You drape them over the branches.  They reflect the lights.

Quote from: Devlyn Marie on December 09, 2017, 02:51:26 PM
It's tinsel. They all talk funny...except me.  :laugh:

Tinsel!!!!

Holy Christmas Batman :o

I need Google translate for USA.

Quote from: Cindy on December 09, 2017, 02:55:00 PM

Quote from: Devlyn Marie on December 09, 2017, 02:51:26 PM
It's tinsel. They all talk funny...except me.  :laugh:

Tinsel!!!!

Holy Christmas Batman :o

I need Google translate for USA.

No, you need Google translate for USA Bahstin Edition!  :laugh:

Quote from: Cindy on December 09, 2017, 02:55:00 PM
Tinsel!!!!

Holy Christmas Batman :o

I need Google translate for USA.

Tinsel?? Icicles are tinsel? Really?  I have heard people talk about tinsel at Christmas time but I always thought tinsel was another word for garland.

Growing up my family never put the tinsel icicles on the tree, but we did have these plastic icicles that I've always loved. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Nt__eNi-tG8/WCEN1XG-PDI/AAAAAAAAGvc/97NckhtK7jM/s1923/Photo%25252020161107152615113.jpg
They look really tacky, but I love the aesthetic of tacky christmas trees if we're being completely honest!

Garland makes your tree look like it stole a Drag Queen's boa.

Quote from: Devlyn Marie on December 09, 2017, 02:51:26 PM
It's tinsel. They all talk funny...except me.  :laugh:

Not all.... I call it tinsel too.

The aluminum chrome Christmas tree we had in the mid 1960s was genuine.  I think it was harvested from the Alcoa plant. 

You're going to get yourself canned.

Quote from: Devlyn Marie on December 09, 2017, 05:22:20 PM
You're going to get yourself canned.

You just beat me to it. Foiled again.

Tossing tinsel upon the limbs of the tree takes a certain talent, skill set and poise but mostly I like to stretch them in front of my mouth to make a whistle  ;D

* Skips about aimlessly*

Quote from: KathyLauren on December 09, 2017, 02:34:44 PM
Tree??  (JK.  Or not)

When I was a young kid, we had a real tree with lots of tinsel on it.  Then, when I was a bit older, we had an artificial (green) tree, still with lots of tinsel on it.  Probably most of the same tinsel: we saved and re-used it.

It's been more than 40 years since I lived with my parents.  I have never put up my own tree.

Only would ever use it on a real tree, as it goes out with the tree.  Can't imagine trying to take the tinsel off of a tree, so it probably was the original tinsel on yours.

I've always called it tinsel,  but seems to me that the packages are labeled as icicles. 

Julia, I've also heard garland referred to as tinsel,  but to me at least, they are not the same. 




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Quote from: KathyLauren on December 09, 2017, 02:34:44 PM
Tree??  (JK.  Or not)

When I was a young kid, we had a real tree with lots of tinsel on it.  Then, when I was a bit older, we had an artificial (green) tree, still with lots of tinsel on it.  Probably most of the same tinsel: we saved and re-used it.

It's been more than 40 years since I lived with my parents.  I have never put up my own tree.

My one grandma saves the icicles year to year. She has this big box filled with icicles.  And she buys a few boxes of new ones each year to add to it. It's madness I tell you. Lol

Actually I've never had icicles on a christmas tree, ever!

But boy I like to decorate mine... We have so much decos in there that the actual tree doesn't show  :D!!! But I/we like it that way! Lots of glitter, colors, garlands in there... We could earn some awards with that tree! And every year there's more stuff going on... as we buy new stuff,  ;).

LOVE Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quote from: PurpleWolf on December 10, 2017, 07:34:58 AM
Actually I've never had icicles on a christmas tree, ever!

But boy I like to decorate mine... We have so much decos in there that the actual tree doesn't show  :D!!! But I/we like it that way! Lots of glitter, colors, garlands in there... We could earn some awards with that tree! And every year there's more stuff going on... as we buy new stuff,  ;).

LOVE Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a lot of ornaments too. I'm picky about what ornaments I put on the tree. I get the tree looking the way I want and without fail every year my dad digs out a few ornaments Tyler and I made in school when were little. OMG, they are SO ugly and sad looking. I've tried taking them off the tree but my dad puts them back and tells me to leave them alone and don't even think of throwing them out. If I didn't know better I would think he does that to annoy me.

Quote from: Julia1996 on December 10, 2017, 07:02:56 AM
My one grandma saves the icicles year to year. She has this big box filled with icicles. 

My mother did that too.  She even saved the original boxes that it came in, from about 1972.  I helped her decorate her tree every year, so that's how I know it was the same tinsel every year.

Quote from: TonyaW on December 09, 2017, 08:06:41 PMCan't imagine trying to take the tinsel off of a tree, so it probably was the original tinsel on yours.

Where we used to live, the garbage collectors would only pick up a discarded real tree if all the tinsel had been removed from it.  They chipped the trees for compost, so they didn't want tinsel in the compost or clogging the chipper.

I know my mother removed the tinsel when she took the tree down, because I had to put it back on the next year.

When I was a kid my father didn't let us decorate the tree, he would go out one or two days before Christmas to pick out a display tree he liked and pay cost or less for it

Then he'd decorate it himself if he felt it needed it

Later on when I got older and was doing fairly well I'd go out and buy a few trees and give them away

I'd keep one for myself but wasn't really sure what to do with it so I'd invite people over to go shopping for decorations and let them decorate it for me

These days I just hang a rustic wooden Christmas plaque and a wreath on my door

Haven't had a Christmas tree for years LOL

I'm still confused.  If icicles are tinsel and tinsel is not garlands, what are garlands?   Perhaps someone can post pictures of icicles, tinsel and garlands.

When my mother was alive, strings of tinsel, that looked as though they could be called garlands, were her main Xmas decoration.  That was partly because the severe arthritis in her hands, caused by a chip frying accident, made it difficult for her to tie decorations on trees.  I'm not into tinsel myself, though.

Quote from: MaryT on December 10, 2017, 10:33:25 AM
I'm still confused.  If icicles are tinsel and tinsel is not garlands, what are garlands?   Perhaps someone can post pictures of icicles, tinsel and garlands.

When my mother was alive, strings of tinsel, that looked as though they could be called garlands, were her main Xmas decoration.  That was partly because the severe arthritis in her hands, caused by a chip frying accident, made it difficult for her to tie decorations on trees.  I'm not into tinsel myself, though.

Agree,  I'm confused too, pictures pls ppl [emoji5]

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Tinsel ( = made of tin, originally) includes both the icicles and garlands.  I have more often heard tinsel used for the icicles and garlands called garlands, but technically, they are both tinsel.  I have never heard of the icicles called icicles except on the packaging.

I'm pretty sure garland was in the wizard of oz and ran down a yellow brick road holding tinsel, icicles could have been involved with the tin man in an intimate way.

<Ah the nurse is here with my medication>

Quote from: Cindy on December 10, 2017, 03:23:20 PM
I'm pretty sure garland was in the wizard of oz and ran down a yellow brick road holding tinsel, icicles could have been involved with the tin man in an intimate way.

<Ah the nurse is here with my medication>

I think you have had enough for now. It's affecting your mind.  ;D

Quote from: V M on December 09, 2017, 06:40:40 PM
Tossing tinsel upon the limbs of the tree takes a certain talent, skill set and poise but mostly I like to stretch them in front of my mouth to make a whistle  ;D

* Skips about aimlessly*

Hold my keyboard you can do that with tinsel?
The things you learn......going to have to find some tinsel and try this now

 Tinsel or icicles were always a part of the tree decoration. As a kid after the lights were on the tree (done by Dad of course) us kids had to do the decorating. Some years there was so much tinsel on them it was hard to see the tree. My dislike of Christmas began way back in those days. To me Christmas held more disappointments than joy.
  As an adult I did my part by obtaining the tree from the lot down the street or more often then not since moving to Oregon in the 90s the tree were hunted down in the growing forests up in the snow covered mountains and cut fresh. Bringing them home I did my job by putting it in the stand and in the designated spot. Then put on the lights. For that point on I was done with Christmas as far as I was concerned. In the years since my mom died my sister and I haven't bothered with a tree or really anything else here.
  So tinsel is a yes is you have a tree and the tree should be fresh from the forest if possible.

Hugs,
The Grinch aka Laurie

These ones look nice.

(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/eb/11/ce/eb11ce60869b28109e337133e8740764.jpg)

If they really are made of crystal glass that tree would cost more than the entire Christmas.

This thread is triggering memories

Quote from: V M on December 09, 2017, 06:40:40 PM
Tossing tinsel upon the limbs of the tree takes a certain talent, skill set and poise but mostly I like to stretch them in front of my mouth to make a whistle  ;D

* Skips about aimlessly*

My parents bought an artificial tree and we stopped using the icicles when I was in like 3rd grade.  Now that you bring it up, I have a vague memory of making them whistle or at least watching my brother do it.  No idea how it's done.

Quote from: KathyLauren on December 10, 2017, 10:54:26 AM
Tinsel ( = made of tin, originally) includes both the icicles and garlands.  I have more often heard tinsel used for the icicles and garlands called garlands, but technically, they are both tinsel.  I have never heard of the icicles called icicles except on the packaging.

Thinking about it more now,  I'm pretty sure we also called both types tinsel until sometime after we had been using the artificial tree for a few years.  No idea when  in my mind it became tinsel=icicle style and garland = rope or string type.

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Quote from: TonyaW on December 11, 2017, 06:47:37 PM
Now that you bring it up, I have a vague memory of making them whistle or at least watching my brother do it.  No idea how it's done.

No need to buy anything special to try this. Take a sheet of paper and put you fingers on the edge about an inch and a half apart. Pull the paper tight and blow between your fingers.

I LOVE TINCEL.

Tincel on the trees, doorways over the windows. It makes the house festive when usually Christmas is a 40degree C affair.

My kids say no more tincel but my house, my choice.

*throws tincel everywhere*

Quote from: Dena on December 11, 2017, 08:55:05 PM
No need to buy anything special to try this. Take a sheet of paper and put you fingers on the edge about an inch and a half apart. Pull the paper tight and blow between your fingers.

Yep, tinsel, paper or any thin material like that will work  ;D  One year my buddies and I came across a whole box of tinsel packages so we decorated each other in a tinsel fight LOL

Quote from: Viktor on December 11, 2017, 06:42:22 PM
These ones look nice.

(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/eb/11/ce/eb11ce60869b28109e337133e8740764.jpg)

If they really are made of crystal glass that tree would cost more than the entire Christmas.

Those are really cool looking. My grandma has swvarsky (don't know about the spelling) and waterford ornaments. She gets additional ones every year. They are beautiful but they are also ridiculously expensive. I don't see the point to spend that kind of money on something that's only going to be seen once a year. My grandpa broke one last year and my grandma called him a clumsy idiot and that the ornament had cost $80.00. Then he asked what kind of a dumb ass would pay $80.00 for one ornament. Ahhhh family. Lol

Yeah my grandparents had glass ornaments, instead of the plastic ones I grew up with they had this whole collection of stuff in the attic they'd get out every year and everything had to be just right. The whole thing was a big ritual at their place. And we kids were not allowed near the tree or to play with it in their house.

In my parents place I was always playing with the tree. I'd just got Star Wars tapes and was trying to make an Ewok village in it or something.   

Quote from: Dena on December 11, 2017, 08:55:05 PM
No need to buy anything special to try this. Take a sheet of paper and put you fingers on the edge about an inch and a half apart. Pull the paper tight and blow between your fingers.

Works with grass blades too.

I think they look good in moderation. My mom has some that are different colors and look like candy, those are my favorite. She kind of has this Land of Sweets (from the Nutcracker) theme going.

I actually really like the outdoor icicle decorations lights that have the dripping effect to them. I think they're mesmerizing and plan to buy some every year but never do since I have no where to put them right now :r oh well.