These miniature trees are the perfect way to celebrate the holiday and spread the Christmas cheer, and what’s even better, they’re easy to make! 

All you need is: 

• Cardboard 
• Yarn 
• Pompoms 
• Glue 

1. Cut your cardboard into the shape of a cone (here is an easy tutorial to follow How to make a cone out of paper – DIY & Crafts Essentials by Handimania – Bing video ) 

2. Then, take your yarn and wrap it around the cone, using the glue to secure it into place 

3. Lastly, add some pompoms along the yarn 

And there you have it, your own little tree! 

Christmas Wonderland (In A Jar)

Have a ton of empty jars stored under the cupboard for “future use”? Or you recently emptied a jar of olives and want something to do with it instead of throwing it out? We’ve got the perfect DIY project for you! 

All you need for this project is: 

• Cotton wool 
• Glass jar 
• DIY Christmas trees 

Following the miniature Christmas tree project, this easy DIY is the perfect place to store the trees you made! 

1. Get the glass jar and remove any labels it may have. 

2. Fill the jar with cotton wool 

3. Add the trees and other decorations you might have to create a Christmas Wonderland 

Marble Extravaganza

So, it’s Christmas time. You went to grab the box of baubles you use every year, some of the baubles are scratched or have paint peeling off. Not very festive, right? This DIY will help you transform clear baubles into colourful decorations! 

1. Scratch or peel off the remaining paint off the bauble 

2. Open the bauble and add a teaspoon of water into the bauble 

3. Pour enamel paint into the bauble (you can add as many colours as you like) 

4. When you’re satisfied with the colours, move the bauble in circular motions in your palm, swirling the paint around and ending up with the beautiful marble effect 

5. Close the bauble and let dry for 24 hours
6. Hang on your Christmas tree 

The post Easy DIY Christmas Decorations That Even Busy Students Can Do! appeared first on The Third Eye.

There are two types of people in this world: those who like traditional Christmas carols and those who don’t.  For that reason, we’re dedicating this to those who are tired of hearing the same 5 songs on repeat this holly jolly festive season!

So, if you’re looking to have yourself a rebellious little Christmas and get into that (alternative) Christmas Spirit, check out this list of less-known Christmas tracks. Some delightful, some a little weird and some which are perfect for the indie soul. Overall, they still have that (not so cheesy) Christmas vibe.

No Doubt- Oi To The World

First up, we’ve got this upbeat cover of The Vandals ‘Oi To The World’, by none other than ska-pop 90’s band No Doubt. This cool and cocky Christmas tune pays homage to punk’s nights out-utterly liberated and somewhat reckless. Matches up with this song’s energy!

The Killers- Don’t Shoot Me Santa

This quirky Christmas bop by infamous Las-Vegas based rock band The Killers is a little bit odd to say the least. But that ‘Killers’ flare will have this song playing over and over in your head for the next couple of days.

Featuring the vocal accompaniment of Ryan Pardey as Santa, it switches tempos quite regularly throughout the song- it’s almost like a dialogue between the victim and the killer (hehe)! Keeping listeners on their toes, it’s a play on the fluctuating emotions anyone would feel if Santa had a gun pointed at their head!

 Run the Jewels- A Christmas F**cking Miracle

*Disclaimer*- this is not your happy go-lucky, ‘wholesome vibes’ Christmas Song. Run The Jewel’s hard hitting bass track, with heart felt and honest lyrics shoves us straight into a state of reflection.

Taking us back in time, El-P and Killer Mike dedicate their lyrics to younger versions of themselves, looking back on where they’ve come from, primarily the injustices faced in “AmeriKKKa with the triple K.” This track is here to remind you that- Christmas is not a pleasant experience for all!

Gruff Rhys- Post-Apocalypse Christmas

This is probably the most appropriately timed song to include for the year 2020. Although we’ve (only) lived through a pandemic, not an apocalypse, I think we can still relate. Plus Gruff Rhys brings along a pretty sick bass line and some tangy psychedelic undertones to keep things zaney and fresh with this rather catchy track. You’ll be singing along to ‘Post-Apocalypse Chirstmas’ in no time!

Andrew Bird- ‘Christmas in April’

Staying on the ‘pandemic’ theme, this downbeat Christmas track by Andrew Bird was written in April, during the lockdown. Bird’s soft, ethereal vocals and gentle guitar playing paints an overall picture for what this festive season might look like. This track is here to soothe that separation anxiety some people might be feeling in Christmas 2020.

Los Campesinos!- Kindle a Flame in Her Heart

This next track is a bit of an indie Christmas love song! It’s got that mushy yet raw kind of vibe to it, leaving your heart a little bit warmer by the end of it. With sort-of cheesy lyrics like “thawing my heart like morning frost,” I recommend playing this song for your girl while cosying up this Christmas time.

If you’ve watched Call Me By Your Name, then I’m sure you know who Sufjan Stevens is. His infectious vocals and subtle instrumentals compliment this elusive yet deeply insightful Christmas tune. Touching on topics like consumerism and Christmas as a modern-day jumble of old traditions, it’s quite a thought provoker. There’s also a sneaky reference to Joy Division somewhere in this 12-minute song. Highly recommend giving it a listen- it’s pure, coffeehouse vibes.

Eels- Everything’s Gonna Be Cool This Christmas

Another ‘coffeehouse vibe track’. Eels bring forth a cool and effortless young energy with this indie rock track. It’s got a somewhat more traditional Christmas vibe to it, thanks to the accompaniment of some Christmas bells. But the rocky overtones compensate for that, so even if you’re utterly anti-Christmas tunes, you’ll probably be able to stomach this one!

Fleet Foxes- White Winter Hymnal

This song may or may not be interpreted as a Christmas track. But bring together lyrics that mention snow, echoing vocals and feel-good energy and you’ve got yourself a somewhat unorthodox Christmas track. Fleet Foxes bring their folky ambience to this track, setting the tone for unavoidable Christmas magic. I do believe that you can appreciate these harmonic melodies, regardless of where you’re coming from.

The Travellers- X’Inhu l-Milied Ghalik

And finally, we couldn’t have compiled this list without adding some local flare. The Travellers released this track in early November this year, and we’re hooked on it. They asked the essential question, “What does Christmas mean to you?” Is it a cup of tea? Spending lots of money? Is it Catholic traditions or is it an extraordinary array of Christmas lights? The answer is entirely up to you, it could mean nothing all!

Bonus Track: David Schembri- A Christmas Lament (Oh Shit, It’s Christmastime Again)

This super fresh release by local musician David Schembri creates a cold and moody ambience, ideal for late walks on cold winter nights. This raw, soft and heart-felt melody has a Bon Iver feel to it. Schembri talks about the hard-hitting reminder Christmas brings about – our lives are rolling by year after year, and there’s nothing we can do to stop it!

Check this article out to learn the Realities Behind the Festive Season

The post An (Unusual) Christmas Playlist appeared first on The Third Eye.

Written by Jade Attard

The word “Christmastime” often brings to mind a number of generally pleasing images. Brightly lit streets, a child’s eagerness to tear open wrapped presents, drinking that extra glass of mulled wine just because it’s the holidays. While these things are indeed anticipated by plenty of people globally (and for good reason), I think that many tend to lose sight of the fact that, Christmastime means different things for different people.

More often than not, it is the media that contributes to the inaccurate idea that this time of year should be solely restricted for happy thoughts and emotions. Classic movies, social media influencers, children’s books amongst others have all, for years, built up this indirect idea that you must be ready to handle festivities excitedly, and with a smile on your face. The holidays are a time to put aside your everyday stress and worries – it’s not fitting to be anything but cheerful. Indeed, this socially enforced jubilation can be hard to swallow if your situation doesn’t quite fit with the “jolly” holiday celebrations.

What do struggling single parent’s children feel when comparing their hand-knit Christmas sweater to their friends’ brand new iPads? In our contemporary commercialist society, the true meaning of Christmas may vary. Yes, many do take the opportunity to put others first, spend time with loved ones and practice gratitude this time of year. However, it’s hard to deny that the holiday season has not become a money-driven tradition, urging businesses to thrive and people to get lost in the midst of earning gifts. Christmas shouldn’t be just for the rich.

Additionally, the happiest time of the year may feel mostly overwhelming for people that live with a deep sense of suffering from loneliness in their life. Bereaving family members, isolated elders, single people suffocating from social stigmas hinting at their pitiful independence. Christmastime can often welcome damaging dwelling on unsatisfying social situations as instigated by society.

Let us try to free ourselves from any pointless and potentially harmful need to live up to any social expectation that doesn’t come naturally. Let us each determine on our own what it means to celebrate festivities in a way that is in harmony with our personal needs.

cover image: source

The post The reality behind the festive season appeared first on The Third Eye.