Templates · 4 min read

Christmas / holiday OOO templates.

Ten end-of-year templates: short closures, extended closures, formal and casual tones, with and without religious framing. Pick one, edit dates, paste.

Quick answer

End-of-year OOOs should specify exact closure dates (not just 'closed for the holidays'), set realistic re-engagement timing (most businesses are slow through January 2-3), and offer a backup contact for genuine emergencies. The 10 templates below cover formal, casual, religious-neutral, and extended-closure scenarios.

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Short closure (Dec 24-26)

'Hi — our office is closed December 24-26 for the Christmas holiday. We'll respond to your email starting December 27. For urgent matters during this window, please contact [backup]. Happy holidays.'

Extended closure (Dec 22 - Jan 2)

'Hi — our office is closed from December 22 through January 2 for the holiday season. We'll respond to your email when we return on January 3. For urgent matters during this window, please contact [backup] at [email]. Wishing you a peaceful holiday season.'

Formal / professional

'Thank you for your email. Our office will be closed from [start] through [end] for the holiday season. Your message will be addressed upon our return. For urgent matters, please contact [name] at [email]. Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday.'

Casual / warm

'Hey! Taking a break with family from [start] through [end]. I'll get to your email when I'm back — for anything urgent, [backup] is around at [email]. Have a great holiday season!'

Religious-neutral ('end of year')

'Hi — I'm out of office for the end-of-year break from [start] through [end]. I'll respond to your email when I return. For urgent matters: [backup]. Wishing you a restful close to the year.'

With routing URL prominent

'Hi — I'm out of office for the holidays through [date]. For urgent matters: [URL] — routes to the right person right away. Otherwise I'll respond when I return on [date].'

Christmas Eve only

'Hi — I'm offline today (Christmas Eve) and back in tomorrow afternoon. For urgent: [backup]. Otherwise I'll respond tomorrow.'

New Year's week

'Hi — I'm out the week between Christmas and New Year, back in office on [date]. For urgent: [backup]. Wishing you a great start to the new year.'

Property manager (with tenant emergency line)

'Our office is closed for the holiday from [start] through [end]. For tenant emergencies (water, heat, electrical, lockout): please go to [URL] for immediate vendor dispatch. For non-urgent matters, we'll respond when we return.'

Solo founder (single person)

'Hi — I'm taking the week off through [date]. I won't be checking email. For genuine urgent matters: [URL] / [backup contact]. For everything else, I'll respond on [return date].'

// Holiday routing

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