Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has made a surprising decision to move Christmas celebrations in the country from December to October.
Despite the global tradition of celebrating Christmas on December 25, Maduro made a live television announcement this week, declaring that Venezuelans should begin their Christmas festivities starting October 1 this year.
In a somewhat unconventional address, Maduro remarked, “It is September, and it already feels like Christmas. As a gesture of appreciation and gratitude to you, I am officially moving Christmas to October 1. Christmas has arrived early for everyone, bringing with it peace, happiness, and security.”
However, this decision has been met with skepticism and frustration from many Venezuelans, who are struggling with economic hardships. Many people are finding it difficult to afford basic necessities, let alone participate in festive celebrations.
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Ernesto Ruiz, a 57-year-old resident of Caracas, expressed his discontent to AP News. He said, “Christmas is meant to be a time of joy, family gatherings, and celebrations. But with the current financial crisis and political instability, who can realistically look forward to an early Christmas?”
Inés Quevedo, a 39-year-old secretary and mother of two, voiced similar concerns. She stated, “We are all anxious about how we will manage to provide food, pay for transportation, send our children to school, and afford necessary medications. I doubt there will be any increase in our salaries or the traditional ‘aguinaldo’ Christmas bonus.”
Since 2022, the minimum wage in Venezuela has remained unchanged at 130 bolivars per month, approximately £2.67. Workers also receive a monthly food assistance bonus of about £30, and those enrolled in government benefit programs get an additional $68.
Quevedo concluded, “We’ll have to see what this early Christmas actually brings.”