Anybody booked Christmas or Boxing Day off?

Last year we were told that we'd have to book these days off otherwise all of our hours would be used on the other days Christmas week.

I didn't see the memo last year otherwise I would have tried, a few people did it but I had to work my full week's entitlement over the other days.

I've tried to book it this year but nobody will authorise it because the store manager doesn't want anybody off, it's just been sitting pending for months. Can people book it off in your stores?