Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, officially declared that Christmas will be moved up in her country to November 1. The reason: to boost the economy and foster citizens' joy.
"I announce that Christmas begins on November 1, because I know that Christmas also activates a lot of economic activity, but it mainly activates the happiness of Venezuelans," she said at the opening of the 82nd annual assembly of the Federation of Chambers and Associations of Commerce and Production of Venezuela (Fedecamaras).
The leader's decision is nothing new in the Caribbean country. Her own predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, also moved the celebration of Jesus's birth on several occasions during his term, coinciding with various crises emerging in his country.
The most recent example occurred in 2025. Amid tensions between his country and the U.S. that led to a military deployment in the Caribbean Sea, he moved Christmas to October 1.
"It's September and it already smells like Christmas," the former Venezuelan leader also said in 2024.
Rodríguez set the new date for Christmas with nearly 10 months of the presidency behind her, following the capture of her predecessor by U.S. military troops. The change in the celebration was set just as Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, face a new criminal charge in the North American country, in which they are accused of an alleged conspiracy to commit acts…
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WorldThe leader announced the measure at a difficult moment for Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores, with a new criminal charge having emerged against them in the U.S. Delcy Rodríguez follows Maduro's footsteps and moves Christmas forward in Venezuela to November 1 CommentsThe interim president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, officially declared that Christmas will be moved forward in her country to November 1. The reason: to boost the economy and foster citizens' joy. "I announce that Christmas kicks off on November 1, because I know that Christmas also activates a lot of economic activity, but it mainly activates the happiness of Venezuelans," she said at the opening of the 82nd annual assembly of the Federation of Chambers and Associations of Commerce and Production of Venezuela (Fedecamaras). The leader's decision is nothing new in the Caribbean country. Her own predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, also moved the celebration of Jesus's birth on several occasions throughout his term, coinciding with various crises emerging in his country. The most recent example occurred in 2025. Amid tensions between his country and the U.S. that led to a military deployment in the Caribbean Sea, he moved Christmas to October 1. "It's September and it already smells like Christmas," the former Venezuelan leader also said in 2024. Rodríguez set the new date for Christmas with nearly 10 months in the presidency behind her, following the capture of her predecessor by U.S. military troops. The change in the celebration was set just as Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, face a new criminal charge in the United States, in which they are accused of an alleged conspiracy to commit acts of torture against political opponents during the Venezuelan government. Read also:"Las Cucarachas" return to protests against the electoral roll revision in India: more than 500 detained Iran reports attack on a ship crossing the Strait of Hormuz "illegally" President of Panama says his country is experiencing a "big disaster": government reports evacuees and infrastructure damage after 7.5 earthquake More about:VenezuelaDelcy RodríguezChristmasNicolás Maduro