Definitely, they were my favorite days.

A few years ago, before the plague of socialism came at the hands of Hugo Chavez, the greatest traitor in this country, there was a lot of enthusiasm and joy throughout the city. This began in the month of October, just when all the employees received the Christmas bonus from the companies.

Then, we all ran to the stores to buy new clothes and shoes for the "premiere", because it was a custom for the days 24, 25 and 31 of each December. It was like the lucky charm. If you wore new clothes, you guaranteed that next year would be full of abundance and prosperity.

And we not only bought something new for us. The house was also remodeled and painted between October and November. So the paint shops were crowded with people buying everything needed for the renovation.

Usually, the houses were painted by family members, so in the end it became a party that lasted almost two months. The smell of "freshly painted" was felt throughout the city. It was so nice to see everything gleaming where you walked.

The stores for the Christmas decorations also looked like a municipal market. All wanting to bring the latest in lights and fantasies.

In my city, Ciudad Bolívar, there was a competition for the house that would have adorned this year. Then, at nightfall, the families visited these houses and enjoyed the event.

Since October, the kitchens of the houses began to perfume the atmosphere with the aroma of our traditional dishes, which are only consumed on December dates. The hallacas, the ham bread, the baked pig, the chicken salad, the black cake and the cream punch were not missing from any table.

December, they were family reunion dates.

Also since October they began to hear the "bagpipes" which is a Christmas party music and is only heard this season.

All the women were very busy on the 24th, putting everything in order. That night would be the great dinner. Everything had to be perfect. So the preparations started very early. For that day everyone was wearing their new clothes.

The party would last until dawn. The next day, the gifts that the child Jesus or San Nicolás had left, whoever was on duty that year, were opened.

The parties continued until December 31. That day we had several rites to call prosperity, harmony, love and travel opportunities:

• If you were single and you wanted to find a partner, you had to get into a chair just as the 12 chimes began announcing the new year.
• If you wanted to travel the world, you should go out with a suitcase.
• To call prosperity and financial success, you should use yellow underwear.
• Eat 12 grapes, one for each ring of the bell so that abundance will always bless your home.

Nobody worked those rites, at least not me, something I think was wrong. But it was so fun to practice with the family! 😉😃

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Another important detail that can only be seen in my state. Just when the new year is announced, we received it with calypso. What is the folk music of my area and announces the first shout of Carnival

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Christmas turned sad. The dictatorship that hides behind the socialism that infected my country changed our customs. Now, we only think about surviving.

When this happens, we will return to our children, a beautiful Venezuelan Christmas. Like the one my mother had, like the one I enjoyed, like the one my children enjoyed when they were little.

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_{The images are my property}