"While 'The Ice Storm' is set during the weekend *after* Thanksgiving, the severe weather event that drives the narrative (the ice storm) often occurs in late November/early December, placing it squarely in the general lead-up to the winter holiday season. The film heavily deals with themes of family breakdown, secrets, and searching for connection, which overlap with traditional Christmas themes, but Christmas itself is not the central focus or explicitly celebrated. It leans heavily on seasonal atmosphere rather than overt holiday plot mechanics."