In Australia everything shuts down from Christmas until about mid-january. I've made the mistake before of trying to work in that time - you can never talk to who you want so it's better to wait - or take holidays yourself !
I'll second that Spirit I guess it's a summer thing. These days I shut my business down between Xmas and mid-January and just leave my mobile on for clients to contact me. I just hope CW's holiday doesn't mean I have to wait an extra month for the Scope I ordered from them recently!