Christmas started this Tuesday in Venezuelawith official events in Caracas and several regions of the country, after the president Nicolas Maduro will decree the “advance” of this season, for which several public spaces have been decorated with lights and images typical of the holiday.
With a countdown, the mayor of Caracas, Carmen Meléndez, led the traditional lighting of a cross which is located in the Waraira Repano, the main mountain formation of the Venezuelan capital, known as Ávila, which prevails in the north of the city.
From a square, the official called on celebrate a “happy, safe and family Christmas”while the Minister of Culture, Ernesto Villegas, who was also at the event, urged taking advantage of the season to reaffirm national identity.
In the opinion of the official, the “Christmas route” that began this Tuesday should not be “empty, without content”, but rather an opportunity – he maintained – to “reaffirm the roots” of Venezuela.
Christmas trees, tunnels of lights and figures such as balls, stars, bows, gift boxes and snowflakes decorate various spaces in Caracas, where passers-by stop for a few moments to take photographs, especially those who are with children.
Some buildings of public institutions are also already decoratedwhile work continues in the city, where “Merry Christmas” messages and the typical candy canes are also seen.
On Tuesday night, there were concerts and various activities in Caracas and states such as Miranda, Carabobo, Guárico and Lara, according to images broadcast by the state channel Venezolana de Televisión (VTV).
Meantime, the country is going through a political crisis unleashed after the July 28 elections, in which Maduro was proclaimed the winner by the National Electoral Council (CNE) based on results that are still unknown in a disaggregated manner, while The majority opposition claims the “victory” of its standard bearer, Edmundo González Urrutia, now exiled in Spain.
On September 2nd, Maduro announced that he would bring Christmas early “in tribute” and “in gratitude” to the Venezuelans after the elections.
Subsequently, the Episcopal Conference of Venezuela (CEV) expressed that This holiday “should not be used for propaganda purposes.” nor private politicians.”
