Early Christmas decorations fail to lift spirits in unfestive Venezuela: Video

Streets in the capital, Caracas, and other cities are lit up with Yuletide decorations, and storefronts sparkle after President Nicolas Maduro officially kicked off the holiday season on Tuesday, October 2, by decree. 

However, the public mood remains bleak in a country battered by economic and political turmoil since Maduro's controversial re-election in July.

Valeria Ponce, a 22-year-old gym instructor, expressed scepticism over the early festivities. "It feels like a way to distract us from everything that's going on," she said. "What am I supposed to celebrate? I don’t even know if I can afford to make 'hallacas' this year," referring to a traditional Venezuelan Christmas dish.

Despite the decorations, many Venezuelans see little reason to celebrate. Teresa Marcos, a 72-year-old retiree, criticised the government’s focus on festivities. "How is it possible that they spend so much money on Christmas? What am I going to celebrate?" she asked, while speaking to the AFP.

Yet, not all Venezuelans share the same perspective about the early Christmas. Jesus Lopez, a doctor, viewed the early Christmas spirit as a sign of hope. "It suggests that there is some progress in the country, which is what I believe, and what the president believes," he said. 

Venezuela remains divided, with the United States, EU, and several Latin American countries supporting opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who claims to have won the disputed July election. Gonzalez Urrutia has since sought asylum in Spain, while the country continues to grapple with deep political and economic strife.