Having a part-time job at uni, can I ask for time off to go home for Christmas?

I've recently been offered a job as a waitress at a brand new opening restaurant. Although I am very happy to work there at any other time of the year, I do live 2 hours permanently away from my university, where all my family are. I only start on the 1st December, and while we do not work Christmas Day I am worried about the days surrounding it. If I do get shifts on the 24th and 26th of December I cannot go home for Christmas and will have to be alone in my house by myself as all my house mates would have left.

I want to speak to my boss about maybe not having shifts around the days before and after christmas, but do I have even a right to ask? Many of my colleagues do live here permanently, I just don't want to give the wrong impression of taking time off so soon and around an important time. I really want to go home to see my family, so even from the 23rd till the 27th would be perfect than not going home at all or just going for a single night. Does anyone have any idea how to approach this? I was just going to go speak to him about it, but should I wait till after my training (15th Nov - 1st Dec) or is it better to make him aware as soon as possible? I was just going to explain that I don't live here permanently and would just love a few days at home over the holidays.

Any advice??? - I am very worried I will have to quit a job I am very much looking forward to start because my family will come first.

Ask if it would be possible to go home for Christmas. If you're just taking a short break then I can't see the issue.

Offer to work extra to cover the missing days, but ONLY if your boss has a problem with it at first.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Should I ask before the contract signing at training or wait until after I have actually started working which is cutting it quite close? I am not asking for weeks off literally only a few days. Plus I may speak to one of my assistant managers who I imagine will be doing the rotas anyway.