Preparing Christmas with clear dates and plans.

Start from what has been decided

Check how the holidays and special days are shared in your case. Many decisions share the holidays according to even and odd years: for Christmas 2026, look at what your court ruling or agreement says for even years. Do not assume that 24 and 25 December follow the usual rhythm. If your rotation is counted in even and odd weeks, be careful: week 53 (from Monday 28 December 2026) and week 1 (from Monday 4 January 2027) are both odd.

The dates for Christmas 2026

In zones A, B and C, Corsica, Guadeloupe, French Guiana and Martinique, the holidays run from Saturday 19 December 2026, after school, to Monday 4 January 2027. In Réunion, they last until 1 February 2027, because it is the southern summer. In Mayotte, they run from 12 December 2026 to 11 January 2027.

Set the times and journeys

Write down the full dates, the handover places and who does each journey. Allow for travel time before accepting several invitations on the same day. For a trip abroad without a holder of parental authority, your child needs a travel authorisation (autorisation de sortie du territoire).

Prepare the belongings, and your child

Think about clothes, presents to carry and the things your child is attached to. Once the plan is confirmed, explain it in simple words, without asking your child to choose between their parents.

Your questions