Feliz Navidad from Venezuela… Christmas in the colourful Latin American country

Dec 25, 2018 News

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Christmas is universally known as the season of hope and goodwill.
This time of year, the simple holiday tradition of family gatherings, feasts and gift giving are quite common in several parts of the world.
However, the festivities in Venezuela are observed in a slightly different fashion. Venezuela’s Christmas celebrations kicks off as early as December 16.
Many Venezuelans mark the birth of Jesus, by attending Midnight mass for more than one week leading up to Christmas day.
Presents are also purchased early. The opening of gifts is usually done at midnight on Christmas Eve.
It is also a popular tradition for the people to paint their houses weeks before Christmas, and purchase new clothes to be worn on Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Venezuelans believe that wearing something new is symbolic to the new era and will bring them luck in the New Year.

However in recent years, the economic downturn has taken a toll on Venezuela causing hundreds of natives to flee the once oil-rich nation.
Hyperinflation, food medicine and shortages have been driving the high migration rate causing many families to separate.
However, despite the gloomy circumstances, Venezuelans have been finding a way to make the most of the holidays while staying hopeful that the state of their country will improve.
Kaieteur News recently caught up with Representatives of the Community of Guyanese /Venezuelans, (RCGV) and spoke to them about Christmas in the colourful Latin American Country.
President of the RCGV, Antonio Hamraj, explained that it is a very important part of Guyanese /Venezuelan tradition to spend quality time and have dinner with their families.

“However this year Christmas will be somewhat dismal due to the exodus of Venezuelans. Given the situation in the country, many Guyanese have left and so Christmas brings back memories and prompts us to miss our relatives and friends even more,” Hamraj added.
Like most of the group, Hamraj was born in Venezuela to Guyanese parents.
Many of them have never experienced Christmas in Guyana, but hope that, one day soon, they could facilitate a visit to their parent’s homeland.
“It has been difficult for us because the cost to visit is quite high at the moment… we wish to facilitate a visit in the New Year,” he shared.
Nonetheless, Guyanese /Venezuelans have fostered their own tradition, which keeps them connected at this time of year.
“A popular feature of a Guyanese Christmas is getting together and taking pleasure in the festivities.
Guyanese /Venezuelan Christmas is a very united Christmas. It is celebrated in the churches, at home, at a neighbour with family and friends; wherever we choose to gather. There are lots of feasts and drinking. ”
The great feast consists of la hallaca, a typical food of all Venezuelans. Even Guyanese people love hallacas, ham bread and toast.
We get together to enjoy the traditional holiday meal: “hallacas,” and pan de “jamón” a long bread filled with cooked ham and raisins.
The “dulce de lechoza” is a dessert made of green papaya and brown sugar, slowly cooked for hours and served cold.
“Venezuela was a country where we all celebrated Christmas.”
Hamraj noted, however, that now only some will be part of the festivals.

Because of the crisis, many natives in Venezuela will not be able to buy what they want according to their tastes and cravings.

Nonetheless, he noted that the group has found creative ways to take pleasure in the small festivities.

“Now, we have been making the most of the small community that remains. We go sightseeing together and take in the scenery the décor, extravagant Christmas lightings of our beautiful country.”
The RCGV representative noted that the activity is their way of staying hopeful that the situation in their country will improve.
“Guyanese and Venezuelans who are inside and outside the country have a lot of faith that Venezuela would soon recover for them. I would think it is our wish that both Venezuelan and Guyana governments have a constructive dialogue on the border dispute. The dialogue of both leaders is very important for both countries,” Hamraj stated.
At present, Hamraj explained hundreds of Guyanese from Venezuela have emigrated to Guyana, Panama, and Peru in search of work.
He said some are hoping to earn enough money to return to Venezuela and have a more dignified future.
In the meantime, he says there are plans by the Venezuelan Government to help facilitate flights to all those Venezuelans who wish to return home for Christmas.
“That would be a real treat for many of us to spend Christmas with our relatives and friends, but in the meantime, our communication is done through social media; facebook, whatsApp, Skype or any other available electronic mail media,” Hamraj shared.
Elaborating further on the Christmas traditions, the RCGV President said Venezuela’s Christmas customs are not unique to the country.
“You can tell the season is upon us because people would start putting up lights and lighting the tree. Some homes will have a Christmas tree, but they’re normally artificial ones as pine and fir trees aren’t common in Venezuela.”
“And Nativity Scenes or the Nacimiento are very popular around this time. In some regions, they are more common than Christmas Trees”
Fireworks displays are also a very popular part of Christmas in Venezuela,” added Hamraj
He explained further that often the custom is to play traditional Venezuelan Christmas music.
In Venezuela, many people attend Christmas mass.

According to Hamraj, going to Midnight Mass (Misas de Aguinaldo) is very popular and there are many other masses and church services in the days before Christmas.
“The religious celebrations begin on December with masses said every morning until December 24th, when the religious service is held at midnight (Misa de Gallo),” he added.

Christmas in Venezuela and Guyana are not so different. We may speak different languages, but at Christmas time, solace is found in knowing that we’re united in more ways than we know.

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