Because it takes time. Between the CIC request to charge and actual charge at your bank it takes 2-5 days. So CIC requested on 19th and you bank(CC) charged on 23rd.Besides if their holiday began on December 22nd, how did others including myself get charged today?
I do not know exactly if CIC works today. I only remember that cut off day for appications for 2014 was Dec 19. That is it. SO I assumed they do not actually work on the applications.