Overview

• Announcing the decision on his state TV program Con Maduro +, Maduro decreed that Christmas festivities will start on October 1.
• He said the change aims to boost commerce and cultural activity and to defend Venezuelans’ “right to happiness.”
• The move comes as Caracas denounces U.S. naval operations in Caribbean waters; Venezuela has ordered troop deployments and militia mobilization, while Washington maintains a $50 million reward for information on Maduro.
• It continues a pattern dating back to 2013, with early holiday starts used repeatedly, including the same October 1 date last year, alongside seasonal social aid such as CLAP food distributions.
• Critics, including Catholic Church voices and opposition groups, call the decree political theater that diverts attention from hardship, with reporting noting high inflation, stagnant official wages, and families struggling to afford traditional holiday foods.