The Perfect Victorian Tree Decorations

Wax Tapers  aka Open Fire

Wax tapers are basically long really long dipped candles.  The lights on a Christmas tree represent the stars in the night sky. You can learn the ins and out and how to make your own wax tapers here.  Just don't burn the house down.  But open fires weren't the only dangerous thing Victorians put on a dead tree in their living room.

Tinsel aka Lead

Tinsel was originally made of real silver in the 1600's. Later, since silver tarnsihes, it was manufactured from tin. There are two types of tinsel: Icicle tinsel and Garland tinsel.
Icicle tinsel is a strip of metal that has been twisted and hangs like an icicle from the tree branches.

Garland tinsel is what we think of tinsel today -- the messy metallic strings that rest on the tree boughs. Metallic tinsel strands were made mostly from fool's gold which made it really expensive to throw over a tree.  Along with fool's gold, tinsel was also made from lead. It is still eaten by pets to this day. Safe Stuff this tinsel is.

buy official Victorian icicle tinsel HERE.

Various Food Items - Popcorn, Cranberries, Marzipan aka Stuff that Tastes Like Crap. 

Since Christmas tree was a mostly German inspired tradition, and since Marzipan is a german invention, it was used to decorate the Christmas Tree.  Marzipan is traditionally shaped into shapes resembling fruits and placed on the tree.

Stringing together Popcorn and Cranberries is a traditional family pastime at Christmas still. the Popcorn resting on the boughs of the evergreen looks like fresh snow and the Cranberries, as the deteriorate,  would probably give off a nice smell.. much like in medieval times with those clove oranges (See Pomander).