The country’s president, Nicolas Maduro, ordered the change of date to the holiday. This year, Christmas began on Oct. 1. He announced the new holiday on Sept. 2 during an episode of his weekly television program, Con Maduro+.

“September is coming, and I said: September already smells like Christmas,” Maduro said. “It smells like Christmas, it smells like Christmas. So this year, as a tribute to you and in appreciation of you, I am going to decree that Christmas will start on October 1. Christmas starts on October 1 for everyone. Christmas comes with peace.”

Maduro has been under intense scrutiny from the fallout from the controversy stemming from Venezuela’s presidential election in July. His decision to change the Christmas holiday is believed to be an attempt to distract his country from the civil unrest caused by the election. 

The controversy in Venezuela started when Maduro claimed victory over opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez of the Democratic Unitary Platform party. Venezuela’s National Electoral Council, a government office widely considered an ally of the Maduro regime, announced Maduro had received over 51% of the vote and was the election winner. 

However, numerous exit polls revealed that Gonzalez should have won, causing protests and demonstrations for weeks. Maduro’s regime clamped down on the opposition displays through harsh tactics, including government harassment and intimidation and the jailing of numerous protesters.

Christmas decorations were seen throughout Venezuela, according to reports. A Christmas tree was displayed in the public square of the capital city of Caracas. However, many people in the country aren’t embracing the warm feelings that typically come with “the most wonderful time of the year.”  

“I think it’s terrible because it’s October,” Desiré Aguiar told the Associated Press. “Halloween hasn’t even passed, and it’s already Christmas? Are we celebrating them together?”

“Christmas is in December. We must be clear about that, we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ,” said Wilfredo Gutiérrez. 

Many mocked Maduro’s decree on social media and scoffed at the idea that the date of Christmas was fluid. However, due to Maduro’s reputation for the harsh treatment of dissenters, there was little public backlash against the October Christmas, according to the Associated Press.

Numerous countries have denounced Maduro and sanctioned the Venezuelan president and his allies for refusing to admit defeat. Despite these actions and condemnations, Maduro still maintains a strict rule over his country. Gonzalez, his opponent in the election, had an arrest warrant issued for him and was forced to flee the country. Spain granted him asylum in September.