Holiday Shifts

I am by no means a new partner, I've been with the company for almost three years and am on my third holiday launch. I'm at my third store (transferred for school and because my old store didn't give enough hours.) And have been at this current store for around 3 months so I am new to this specific store.

Background out of the way, my new SM put out a statement a month ago saying that EVERY partner needs to sign up to work at least TWO holidays so we're fully staffed and will only be giving time off on a first come first serve basis. She has also, on the sign up sheets, written what holiday hours will be.

At every store I've worked at the policy has been the store will be open (at least for Christmas) based off of how many people signed up, but it was ALWAYS optional to sign up for any holiday and never required.

I'm at a majority college student store, a few of us don't need to go home for holidays, but for example, I haven't been home since June becuase of work and now can only go home for 9 days in December (if she even approves it) to meet her requiremnets. I know a lot of my coworkers want to go home for Thanksgiving, Hannukah, and other holidays, and like me, can't, because of this.

Did the rules change? Is this how it works at any of your stores?

Sorry, I just need some advice on how to deal with this.

EDIT: I know that Thanksgiving and New Years are holidays where the store is open regular hours, however at my previous stores it’s always been voluntary to sign up for them and then if shifts need filled they’ll ask. Christmas is the only Holiday I’ve seen where hours will be shortened or the store won’t be open.