Nicolás Maduro Moves Christmas Up to Oct. 1 in Venezuela

While Nicolás Maduro moved Christmas up in Venezuela to Oct. 1, a gaita — the quintessential music genre for the holidays in the South American country — makes use of a speech by opposition leader María Corina Machado to speak out against the government amid the deep crisis since the July 28 presidential election.

Its title is “Échenle Bolas” (slang for “undertake with determination” or “go ahead”), written by Venezuelan singer, songwriter and producer Nano Silva and released last week on social media. “Go ahead, show the minutes, that’s what the whole world is asking for/ We showed them first, and they do have the exact count/ Go ahead, show the minutes, so that the true shines,” says part of the song performed by Silva’s band, Gaiteando con Nando, in reference to the questioned results of the election.

It was shared on Instagram by Venezuelan personalities such as comedian George Harris, where it had more than 28,000 likes at the time of this publication.

According to election results published by the opposition, which have been recognized by countries including the United States, González won the election with about 70% of the vote. Maduro was proclaimed the winner by the National Electoral Council amid complaints of fraud and has not presented the minutes to support his victory.

After weeks of demonstrations that left dozens dead and more than 2,000 people arrested, Maduro declared Monday (Sep. 2) in a televised event: “September is coming and it already smells like Christmas. And that is why this year, in homage to you, in gratitude to you, I am going to decree the early Christmas for October 1. Christmas begins on October 1 for everyone. Christmas has arrived with peace, happiness and security.”

Maduro’s statement came only hours after a Venezuelan judge issued an arrest warrant for opposition leader Edmundo González for “various crimes including conspiracy, falsifying documents and usurpation of powers,” The Associated Press reported.

It is not the first time that the Chavismo leader has changed the end-of-year festivities schedule in Venezuela. In 2020, Maduro decreed the start of Christmas for Oct. 15, in 2021 for Oct. 4, and last year for Nov. 1.

Listen to Nano Silva’s gaita “Échenle Bolas” below: