The air is cold and crisp, the ground is blanketed in fresh white snow, and the streets of Spokane are lined with bright festive lights. That can only mean one thing — Christmas is just around the corner! Here at Cinder, we believe there’s no better way to celebrate than snuggling up with a warm cup of cocoa and a fresh bowl of greens as you marathon all of the Christmas classics. That’s why it’s become tradition for us to give you the low down on the best Christmas movie and weed strain pairings.
Movie | The Grinch
Starting off our list is a Christmas classic, the Grinch. In every iteration of the Grinch, the story follows a mean, green hermit living on the outskirts of Whoville with his little dog Max. The Grinch is known to the people of Whoville as a curmudgeon and an outcast who hates Christmas, which is an accurate assessment. In his hilltop cavern, the Grinch works up a scheme to ruin Christmas for the Who’s for his own personal amusement and gain. Along the way, the Grinch meets young Cindy Lou-Who, who is able to reinstall his Christmas joy.
Strain | Mean Misty
For the meanest man in Whoville there’s not strain more fitting than Mean Misty. Mean Misty is a fruity hybrid with both mental and physical effects. This strain is a cross of Secret Recipe and Blue Dream. The result is a strain with a strong berry aroma with earthy undertones. Smoking Mean Misty will give a rush to the head with a mild relaxation all over your body.
Movie | The Nightmare Before Christmas
Some may argue that this is exclusively a Halloween movie, but I beg to differ. The Nightmare Before Christmas follows Jack Skellington, the King of Halloween Town. One fateful night alone in the woods, Jack stumbles upon a mysterious tree with a Christmas shaped door that sucks him into the world of Christmas Town. Entranced by the whimsy of Christmas town, Jack attempts to spread jolly and Christmas joy across Halloween Town. The result is not the wonderful collide of cultures Jack envisioned and chaos ensues shortly afterward.
Strain | Bone Collector
Paying homage to our skeletal protagonist, we’ve chosen bone collector as the strain pairing for this Christmas movie. Bone Collector, a Phat Panda exclusive, is an indica-hybrid that crosses M.A.C with Cow God. This relaxing strain is perfect for snuggling in with a warm cup of cocoa as you watch this whimsical Tim Burton classic.
Movie | Home Alone 2: Lost In New York
This one goes out to the 80’s and 90’s kids yearning for a little taste of nostalgia this holiday season. This Christmas movie takes place in New York City a year after main character Kevin McCallister was left home alone to defeat a pair of rag-tag burglars. Now, Kevin once again finds himself home-alone and the same burglars are not far behind him.
Strain | Big Apple
.jpg){kind=link}
Named for the city Kevin finds himself stranded in, Big Apple is the best strain to pair with this Christmas movie. Big Apple is an indica-dominant hybrid strain created by crossing the infamous Apple Fritter with Sherbet. The result is an ultimately delicious apple strain. Big Apple is simultaneously super sweet and sour like citrus with nutty notes and a ripe apple flavor. The aroma is just as flavorful with an extra punch of rich berries. When you smoke this strain, you’ll be lifted into a focused euphoria that will slowly fade into a heavy couch lock. As a result, this is perfect for smoking before you watch Home Alone 2.
Movie | The Polar Express
This entry is one that younger readers like myself probably grew up with, The Polar Express. This animated Christmas movie follows a young boy who is beginning to lose his faith in the existence of Santa Claus. Late one Christmas Eve, this young boy is woken up by the sound and sight of a passenger train mysteriously stopped outside of his house. Once he makes his way out, he is greeted by the train’s conductor. The conductor tells him that this train is headed to the North Pole. Surprised, the boy is hesitant to board the train, but he eventually decides to climb aboard. Here, he meets several other children on their way to the North Pole. The story follows these children on their ride up to meet Santa Claus while tackling themes of friendship, bravery, and the magic of Christmas.
Strain | The Pineapple Express
We of course have to pair The Polar Express with the infamous Pineapple Express. This sativa-dominant hybrid is the perfect movie pairing as it’s effects will keep you buzzy and alert so you don’t miss out on any Christmas magic. Pineapple Express produces long-lasting, energetic effects that you can feel right away. This strain is best enjoyed in the earlier half of the day and has the delicious flavors of bright citrus, pineapple, and earthy pine on the exhale.
Movie | Tokyo Godfathers
For this entry I’ve selected a personal favorite Christmas movie that many of you may not have heard of before, Tokyo Godfathers. This Japanese animated movie follows the story of a homeless teenage runaway named Miyuki, a motherly retired drag queen named Hana, and a middle-aged alcoholic named Gin. Their journey begins when the three hear the cries of a newborn late one night in the streets of Japan. They discover that someone has abandoned this baby in a trash bin.
Upon their discovery, the trio vows to return the displaced newborn to their parents. Along the way, we learn the tragic backstories of our three protagonists and how they ended up in the streets all while they are on their mission to return the newborn to their mother. This tragic yet uplifting animated movie is a great movie to watch if you’re looking for something that’s deep and introspective while still managing to be funny and whimsical.
Strain | Tokyo Snow
We recommend pairing this Japanese animated Christmas movie with the strain Tokyo Snow from Sky High Gardens. Tokyo Snow is a heady sativa-hybrid that provides a beach of wintery forest breeze. With cooling menthol on the exhale, this strain provides cool wintery vibes as well as spectacular flavor. You’ll also taste delicately floral notes with hints of pine and eucalyptus that’ll have you feeling like you just smoked a bowl of Christmas. This strain is great for pairing with Tokyo Godfathers not only for its name, but for its exceptionally cool flavor and upbeat effects. Smoking this as you watch the scenes of snow-blanketed Tokyo will have you feeling like you’ve been transported right into the movie.
Movie | The Santa Claus
Lastly, this Christmas classic follows the story of toy salesman Scott Calvin as he prepares to spend Christmas Eve with his son Charlie. Scott’s ex-wife Laura and her husband believe that Charlie is at a point in his life where he needs to be told the harsh reality that Santa isn’t real. Despite not believing in Santa himself, Scott wants young Charlie to maintain his belief in Santa Claus. Following a night of unfortunate events, Scott is woken by a noise on the roof.
When going out to investigate, Scott startles a man in a Santa suit who then slips and falls off of the roof. Mysteriously, the body of the man vanishes, leaving only his suit and a business card behind. The business card reads “If something should happen to me, put on my suit. The reindeer will know what to do.” It’s then that it becomes clear that Scott just killed Santa Claus. At the request of his son, Scott puts on the suit and spends the rest of the night delivering gifts with Charlie before the reindeer take them both to the North Pole. It’s hear that Scott learns that he has now assumed the role of Santa Claus and he must now learn all of the duties that come with being the boss of Christmas.
Strain | Fatso
Come one, you know why we picked this strain…no hate Santa. Fatso crosses GMO Cookies and Legend OG for a powerful strain that is not for the faint of lungs. This funky, gassy indica is high in THC so get ready for a whopping punch from this one. You’ll be glued heavily to your couch so make sure you get your movie running before smoking this heavy-hitter.
Products listed are available at Cinder locations: Cinder North, 6010 N Division St, Spokane, Wa 99208; Cinder Downtown, 927 W 2nd Ave, Spokane, WA 99201; and Cinder Valley, 1421 N Mullen Rd B, Spokane Valley, Wa 99206
This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit-forming. Which is to say, cannabis can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Therefore, do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. Furthermore, there may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. To sum up, keep out of the reach of children.