Happy holidays - software engineering definition

So just now talked with a friend. He very busy at work before the holidays. Some Chinese business close for like 10 days...

"Yeah. Is funny. We work hard to finish something before period of time where nobody is going to use the result of what we have done!"

I remember one incident where we worked really hard and looking hours to finish something before end of June - the European part of project wanted it badly before that date. Delivering on time. I sent the result to the developer who wanted it. The automatic email response was that he had just gone on vacation and would be back a month later!