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According to the official, the “Christmas route” that began on Tuesday should not be “empty, without content,” but rather, an opportunity – he said – to “reaffirm the roots” of Venezuela.
Christmas began on Tuesday in Venezuela, with official events in Caracas and several regions of the country, after President Nicolás Maduro decreed the “advance” of this season, for which several public spaces have been decorated with lights and typical images of the holiday.
With a countdown, the mayor of Caracas, Carmen Meléndez, led the traditional lighting of a cross located on the Waraira Repano, the main mountain formation of the Venezuelan capital, known as the Ávila, which stands in the north of the city.
From a plaza, the official called for a “happy, safe and family-friendly Christmas,” while the Minister of Culture, Ernesto Villegas, who was also present at the event, urged people to take advantage of the season to reaffirm their national identity.
According to the official, the “Christmas route” that began on Tuesday should not be “empty, without content,” but rather, an opportunity – he said – to “reaffirm the roots” of Venezuela.
Some public institution buildings are already decorated, while work continues in the city, where “Merry Christmas” messages and the typical candy canes can also be 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).
Meanwhile, the country is experiencing a political crisis unleashed after the elections of July 28, in which Maduro was declared the winner by the National Electoral Council (CNE) based on results that are still unknown in detail, while the majority opposition claims the “victory” of its standard-bearer, Edmundo González Urrutia, now exiled in Spain.
On September 2, Maduro announced that he would bring forward Christmas “in tribute” and “in gratitude” to Venezuelans after the elections.
Later, the Episcopal Conference of Venezuela (CEV) stated that this holiday “should not be used for propaganda or particular political purposes.” EFE
