in an unexpected move Venezuelan president Nicholas Maduro has declared that Christmas will be celebrated on October the 1st this year a change he announced during his weekly TV show K Maduro Plus on September the 2nd Maduro who cited the early festive Spirit as his motivation framed the decision as a gift to the people amidst widespread skepticism and criticism this controversial shift comes amid a tense political climat following his re-election which has faced significant opposition and International scru critics including the Venezuelan Episcopal conference have condemned the alteration as a misuse of Christmas for political ends meanwhile opposition leader edmundo Gonzalez has reportedly gone into hiding after an arrest warrant was issued against him adding further turbulence to Venezuela's already Fraud's political landscape