Venezuela’s Christmas Season Announced Early
Delcy Rodríguez, the “acting president” of Venezuela, revealed on Thursday that the Christmas season will commence on “November 1.” This decision continues an unusual practice initiated by her predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, the ousted socialist leader.
Since 2013, Venezuela, a nation predominantly Catholic, has largely been unable to engage in a traditional Christmas period. Globally, Christians celebrate Advent, which spans four weeks leading up to Christmas, starting four Sundays before the holiday to honor the birth of Jesus Christ.
During his nearly 13-year rule, Nicolás Maduro frequently adjusted the start of the Christmas season. He often used the festive atmosphere to divert attention from the serious human rights abuses committed by his government and the collapse of socialism in Venezuela, leading to a significant migrant crisis in the region.
Initially, it seemed Rodríguez would not continue Maduro’s Christmas tradition. However, during her speech at the annual assembly of the Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce in Caracas, she proclaimed that Christmas would begin in November. She justified her decision, noting that the holiday season typically boosts economic activity in Venezuela, a reasoning that Maduro had previously used to start Christmas celebrations earlier.
“I’m announcing that Christmas kicks off on November 1 because I know that Christmas not only boosts economic activity but, above all, brings happiness to Venezuelans, both men and women,” she stated.
Rodríguez then extended her gratitude to the audience, encouraging them to work towards creating a stronger Venezuela.
The timing of her announcement coincided with U.S. prosecutors unveiling new charges against Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, alleging they led a state-sponsored repression system responsible for the torture of numerous victims, including several Americans. Since their arrest in January during a U.S. operation in Caracas, the couple has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn and is set to face trial in June 2027 on various drug trafficking charges.
Recently, Rodríguez attended the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in the U.S., where she met President Donald Trump. She previously described implementing socialism in Venezuela as “personal revenge” for her father’s death. Yet, during her speech at the U.N., she did not mention her past ties to socialism or Maduro. Instead, she thanked President Trump for his administration’s willingness to reestablish ties and hailed a recent oil deal between the two countries.
Interestingly, Rodríguez did not visit Maduro during her time in New York, despite his proximity to the U.N. headquarters.
Maduro had last declared the early start of Christmas in September 2025, around four months before his arrest, mandating that Christmas celebrations should begin on October 1. He had made a similar decree in 2024, claiming it was a gesture of gratitude for what he called a victory in the disputed presidential elections earlier that year.
Generally, Maduro would announce these decisions through various state media platforms. In contrast, Rodriguez does not currently host any regular media broadcasts.
