Icicles and an enabler alert!

[ChristmasCheerleader]

If you ever have a couple of hours to waste (LOL) go to google images and type in "retro Christmas or vintage Christmas. Oh my, time certainly slipped away quick. Lots of photos that brought back lots of memories.

One thing I noticed on many of the old photos is the use of "icicles" on the Christmas trees. When I was growing up icicles were a must. You never see them any more. I'm thinking that this year I may revive that tradition on at least one of my trees. I know they are messy to take off, but I think the "look" is worth it. I remember sitting in the dark with only the lights from the tree of and watching the glistening icicles.

Do any of you still use icicles?

 

[luludou]

Nope! too messy. But I love everything else about a retro christmas!

 

[carol1231]

No, we don't use them. We put up two trees; a live one on our main level, and an artificial downstairs in our family room. The icicles are too hard to remove from both and you can't recycle the live tree with the icicles still on. But I agree they are pretty on a tree, our trees always had icicles when I was a kid. Mom would never let me put them on because you had to place them one by one. I thought it was easier to take a handful and throw it up there!

 

[FrostyShimmer]

We didn't put icicles on our tree last year, but I did every year previous to that. Only $.50 a package at the dollarstore!

 

[snowlvr]

We always had icicles, but with 2 cats, we found out this wasn't a good idea-too much fun to chew on...but my SIL --no kids or cats--always has them on her tree...they do bring back memories...

 

[Cathymac]

I haven't used them, but my Dad insisted on them every year. I am planning a retro themed tree, if I can find enough Shiny Brite ornaments at the flea market, so I might put them on that one, along with the huge bulbs and possibly some bubble lights...it's just a small wall tree, so it wouldn't be too bad to take them off that one.

 

[Pam Spaur]

Oh, my! What a trip down memory lane. :globe:

We used icicles when I was a child. And they were saved from year to year. I was never allowed to help decorate the tree, but the icicles were put on one by one. I did the same thing when I got my own home. And the trees were beautiful!! I taught my children to do the same thing. When I was pregnant with my last child (who was born three weeks after Christmas), I was HUGE (he weighed 10#, 1 oz!), and couldn't reach the tree very well. So my daughter, who was seven at the time, put the icicles on the tree for me, and did a very good job. I haven't put a tree up for the last couple of years, but I really am going to try this year. It didn't seem quite like Christmas without a green tree. Memories are so precious.

:bigsnow:

 

[aggy]

I haven't used icicles since I was a teenager. We stopped buying them because they were too messy. I could never get them on the tree right anyway and the tree would look junkie. LOL

 

[momtomaddie]

I guess I don't understand the type of these icicles. What would make them "messy"? Did you make them? The only ones I've ever seen are the "crystal" looking ones from the store. Just wondering...

 

[CanadianJingles]

Do you mean tinsel? The only icicles I've ever seen on trees are the crystal ornaments so I'm wondering if this is just a regional difference in what they are called.

My family strung tree with tinsel as a kid, one by one, slowly on and slowly off. It was reused every year. I haven't used it on my tree as an adult. Maybe someday.

 

[aggy]

Yes the tinsel but we've always called it icicles.

 

[pixiestick]

My MIL always puts tinsel on her tree. Me - never.

 

[HouseElf]

I think they are called many things depending upon your age and the region?

We called them tinsel. I have never used them in my home (cat). However, I do have tin icicles that I love. They remind me a little bit of the stuff we used when DH and I where kids, without the mess.

http://www.leevalley.com/gifts/page.aspx?c=1&p=45140&cat=4,104,53211&ap=3

 

[InstantMom]

When we were growing up, I begged for icicles instead of tinsel garland, but my mom always vetoed the idea. And now that I am the one who takes the tree down, I understand why! Come to think of it, if she had given in, I might not have liked the change - it really threw me when she switched from those big C-4 lights to the little ones (and I was 30-something at the time!).

Fun thread!

 

[Terrylee5151]

I think the trees of today look bare without the icicles. I may have to pick some up this year, they just make the tree look so sparkley.

 

[foxpaw]

I have used tinsel or icicles a couple of times...none recently. I use large fluffy white garland and tinsel makes it just too much...I do like the look of it tho (without garland).

 

[MamaCat]

We called in "tinsel" when I was growing up & yes, we always had it on our tree! Like someone else mentioned, we saved ours from year to year. I swear, some of it had to be 10 years old--or more! LOL! I love the stuff but don't dare use it because we have 3 cats. It can be very dangerous to them to eat. If I am EVER without cats again, though, I will definately have tinsel on my tree. It looks so very old fashion, I think! Just brings back so many good memories!

 

[Rackandrollgal]

In our home, icicles are a must have on the main tree. I don't put it on the trees in my other rooms. I love it, we always had it on our tree as a child, and it's something I remember being mesmerized by...for hours I'd sit and watch the lights reflect on the tinsel. I only like it on a tree if I hang one strand at a time...and it is evenly distributed on the tree. It probably takes me longer to do the icicles than anything else.

I guess I'm blessed, my cats have absolutely no interest in playing with it....thank God!!!

It can tend to be messy at times, especially when the grandbabies are looking at the gifts....but, to us, it's worth all the effort!

 

[welshbabe]

From Uk I always use tinsel
http://www.christmastimeuk.com/browse.php?action=view&cat_id=41
- and don't find it messy at all (is yours different I wonder??).


Icicles we know as long sticks of clear plastic which are put up just like baubles.

The messy stuff is fine bits of shreddedtinfoil -now that is a mess! Don't use it - or the spray on show which I think is horrid.

 

[Lana]

That does bring back memories. My grandparents always used it on their tree, put on one at a time and also saved it year to year. We call it icicles. I have always used tinsel garland on our tree. One year I thought I would put bows on out of tulle (several yrs ago) and the DH, and kids wanted our garland on. Once I also tried a BIG bow on top and the ribbon steaming down but that was a no gotoo.