Venezuela Moves Christmas

Feliz navidad, Venezuela! The country celebrated “early Christmas” on November 1, apparently because “we want happiness for all people,” according to President Nicolàs Maduro. But critics say that doesn’t tell the whole story: instead, they say, Christmas was moved up because the earlier date means Christmas bonuses will be handed out on December 1, seven days before the municipal election. Maduro does lately seem pretty obsessed with happiness: he created a Deputy Ministry of Social Happiness last week.