With my interest piqued following a comment that someone made on a reel on facebook I went and did some research into the history of confetti. Amazingly having done some research it turns out that it dates back over 2000 years to ancient civilisations in both Europe and Asia
🎭 Ancient Origins
Long before paper confetti existed, people originally threw natural materials during celebrations:
- In ancient civilisations such as Rome and Greece, festival goers originally tossed small materials such as grains, nuts, and flower petals during weddings and triumphs as symbols of prosperity and good fortune.
- In some parts of Asia, rice was thrown at weddings in the way we see more decorative confetti today. This is a tradition which still continues in some cultures today and is regaining popularity due to the easily biodegradable nature of it.
These early forms of confetti were used as symbolic offerings rather than pure decoration that we commonly see today in the modern world.
🍬 Italian “Confetti” (Sugar-Coated Treats)
The actual word confetti comes from the Italian word “confetto”, which mens a small sweet.
- During the Renaissance period in large Italian cities such as Venice and Rome, the tradition evolved to be the throwing of sugar-coated almonds and candies during parades and festivals.
- By the 18th century, the act of throwing actual candy had become very expensive, so people started to switch to tossing small plaster pellets — however, these were later banned because they were causing injuries.
In modern day Italy, confetti still refers to sugar-coated almonds which are given at weddings and baptisms.
🎉 Paper Confetti in France
Modern paper confetti originated in 19th-century Paris.
- Around the 1890s, theater owner Paul Favier reportedly began selling small bits of paper as a safer alternative to plaster pellets during Carnivals and special events.
- Paper confetti as we know it today very quickly became popular in parades and celebrations throughout Europe.
The invention of the paper hole punch made production easier and cheaper.
🎊 Confetti in the United States
Confetti became widely popular in the U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries:
- It was heavily used in ticker-tape parades in cities like New York City.
- The tradition of throwing shredded paper from office windows became iconic during celebrations such as the first parade honoring Charles Lindbergh in 1927.
🎈 Modern Confetti
Today, confetti comes in many forms:
- Paper circles (classic)
- Metallic foil
- Biodegradable tissue
- Large decorative shapes
- Confetti cannons and poppers
It’s used at weddings, birthday parties, concerts, sports championships, and major events worldwide.
