Maduro declares October Christmas in crisis-hit Venezuela

"It's September, and it already smells like Christmas. That's why this year, as a way of paying tribute to you all and in gratitude to you all, I'm going to decree an early Christmas for October 1," Maduro announced during his weekly television show.

The announcement follows a highly disputed election in July, in which Maduro was re-elected for a third term. This outcome was met with widespread criticism both domestically and internationally.

The early Christmas declaration has also suffered the same fate.

José Ernesto Ruiz, a 57-year-old office worker from Caracas, expressed "Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy, family reunions, parties, presents. But without money and with this political crisis, who can believe that there will be an early Christmas?"

Inés Quevedo, a 39-year-old secretary and mother of two, echoed the concerns of many citizens: "We are all worried about how we are going to put food on the table, how we are going to pay for the bus, send the children to school, and buy medicine when we need it?"

As reported by CNN, the country's religious body, the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference on Tuesday, September 3 warned Christmas "is not to be used for political or propaganda goals".

Despite the criticism, Maduro insists that the early Christmas celebration will bring "peace, happiness, and security" to the country.

This is not the first time Maduro has declared an early Christmas. It has become a norm, described as a political manoeuvre aimed at diverting attention from the country's ongoing crises: similar announcements were made during the COVID-19 pandemic, though never this early in the year.

Beyond the fogged political atmosphere, Venezuela's economic situation has been dire for several years, with hyperinflation and shortages of basic goods severely impacting the population. The minimum wage has remained stagnant at 130 bolivars per month (approximately $3.55) since 2022.