It’s Christmas in Venezuela in October – by order of the president

People set up Christmas decorations in Caracas, Venezuela, in October (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Residents of Caracas, the capita of Venezuela, woke up on Tuesday to a towering Christmas tree standing in a popular public square, weeks after President Nicolas Maduro declared the jolly season would start earlier this year in the South American country.

Workers rushed to set up decorations in various neighbourhoods, but the mood was far from festive.