Holidays are where custody orders get tested. A schedule that runs smoothly all fall can fall apart over who has the kids on Christmas morning or how spring break lines up with the Comal ISD and New Braunfels ISD calendars. Texas uses a holiday rotation built into the Standard Possession Order, and most orders signed in New Braunfels and Comal County follow it closely. This page explains the general pattern, the holidays that are not covered, and how to avoid the most common disputes. Your order’s exact wording always controls.
How Holidays Fit Into the Regular Schedule
The Standard Possession Order gives the non-primary parent first, third and fifth weekends plus Thursday time. Holiday periods sit on top of that schedule and take priority over it. When a holiday period begins, the regular weekend or Thursday that would have fallen inside it does not apply.
Most holidays rotate by even and odd years. That keeps things predictable: if you know which parent has Thanksgiving in odd years, you can plan years in advance.
The Standard Texas Holidays
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving alternates each year between parents. In the standard order, the non-primary parent has Thanksgiving in odd-numbered years and the primary parent in even-numbered years. The period generally runs from when the child is released from school for the Thanksgiving break until Sunday evening after Thanksgiving under the basic times (expanded orders may differ).
Christmas and Winter Break
Winter break is divided into two halves, with December 28 at noon as the usual dividing point:
- First half: from when school lets out for the break until noon on December 28.
- Second half: from noon on December 28 until the day before school resumes.
In the standard order, the non-primary parent has the first half in even-numbered years and the second half in odd-numbered years. That means each parent has Christmas Day every other year.
Spring Break
For parents living 100 miles or less apart, spring break alternates. The non-primary parent usually has it in even-numbered years. For parents living more than 100 miles apart, the non-primary parent generally has spring break every year, because weekly visits are not practical.
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day
These weekends do not alternate. The mother has Mother’s Day weekend every year, and the father has Father’s Day weekend every year, regardless of whose weekend it would otherwise be. The exact start and end times depend on the order and whether expanded times apply.
The Child’s Birthday
On the child’s birthday, the parent who does not otherwise have the child that day is typically entitled to a short visit, often a couple of hours in the evening, and may include the child’s siblings. Many parents agree to more flexible birthday arrangements.
Quick Reference
| Holiday | Standard pattern | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving | Alternates by year | Starts at school dismissal for the break |
| Christmas break | Split at noon Dec. 28 | Halves swap each year |
| Spring break | Alternates (100 miles or less) | Every year for non-primary parent if more than 100 miles |
| Mother’s Day | Mother every year | Weekend period |
| Father’s Day | Father every year | Weekend period |
| Child’s birthday | Short visit for the other parent | Siblings may be included |
This is a general summary. Exact times, years and conditions are in your own order.
Holidays the Standard Order Leaves Out
People are often surprised that these are not part of the standard Texas holiday schedule:
- Easter
- Halloween
- Fourth of July
- Memorial Day and Labor Day (beyond any weekend extension)
- Religious holidays such as Passover, Diwali or Eid
- Parents’ birthdays
- New Year’s Eve as a separate holiday
Without special language, these days simply fall on whatever the regular schedule gives. If any of them matter to your family, write them into your agreed order. For example, a family might alternate Easter weekend each year, or give each parent the Fourth of July in alternating years so both get a turn at the local Independence Day celebrations.
Local School Calendars and Holidays
Texas holiday periods are tied to school dates: when school lets out, when it resumes. That means the actual dates depend on your child’s school district calendar. New Braunfels-area families may be in different districts depending on where they live, and private schools set their own calendars. When the parents’ children attend different schools, or a child changes districts after a move, the order should say which calendar controls.
If the child is not yet in school, many orders refer to the calendar of the public school district where the primary parent lives.
Avoiding Holiday Disputes in Comal County Cases
Most holiday fights come from vague expectations, not bad faith. These steps help:
- Map the year in advance. Put every holiday period on a shared calendar in August, when the school calendar comes out.
- Confirm exchange times in writing a week before each holiday.
- Plan travel early. If you want to take the children out of state for Christmas, tell the other parent the dates and destination well ahead of time.
- Do not trade holidays verbally. Put any swap in writing, ideally through a co-parenting app.
- Keep the children out of it. Our co-parenting guide has ideas for making holidays easier on kids.
If the other parent keeps the child past the end of a holiday period, or refuses to hand the child over, you may need enforcement. If your current holiday terms no longer fit your family, a modification can update them.
Holiday Travel Out of State
Many New Braunfels families have relatives across Texas and beyond, and holidays are when children travel. A good order addresses:
- how much notice a parent must give before taking the child out of state during a holiday period
- whether an itinerary, flight information and a contact address must be shared
- which parent holds the child’s passport, if international travel is possible
- whether a parent may consent to the child traveling with grandparents or other relatives
When the order is silent, disagreements about travel often surface right before a holiday, when there is little time to get a court hearing. Settling these issues in advance is far easier.
Talk With a New Braunfels Family Lawyer
A holiday schedule should give your children good memories, not tense exchanges. We help Comal County parents draft holiday terms that are clear and enforce the ones that are being ignored. Call (830) 302-4071 for a free consultation by phone, video or in person. Hablamos español.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who gets the children for Christmas in Texas?
Under the standard order, the winter break is split into two halves, with the halves trading between parents each year. One parent has the first half in even-numbered years and the other in odd-numbered years. Your order states which parent has which half.
Is Easter covered by the Standard Possession Order?
No. Easter, Halloween, Fourth of July, Labor Day and religious holidays are not part of the standard Texas holiday schedule. Easter usually falls on whatever weekend the regular schedule gives. Parents can add these holidays to an agreed order.
Do holiday periods override regular weekends?
Yes. Holiday possession generally takes priority over regular weekend and Thursday periods. If your weekend falls inside the other parent’s holiday time, the holiday controls for that period.
What if the other parent will not return the child after a holiday?
Document what happened and contact a lawyer promptly. The court can enforce the order and, in some cases, order make-up time. See our page on custody enforcement.
How do we handle a holiday when we live far apart?
Distance mainly changes spring break and summer. Parents more than 100 miles apart usually give the non-primary parent spring break every year. Travel logistics should be spelled out in the order.
Last reviewed November 13, 2026. General information only, not legal advice.