The lead up to Christmas in Venezuela

Communal Council La Columna, Merida, organised an end of year Christmas and cultural activity for the community together with Bolivarian University students and the local chapter of the Bolivarian army (Carolina Rangel)

Serving a communal, traditional sancocho (soup) at the above event (Tamara Pearson/Venezuelanalysis.com)

Dance at the event (Tamara Pearson/Venezuelanalysis.com)

A "Christmas fair", this one carried out by a Barcelona mayor. For sale were 80 tonnes of food used to create the traditional hallacas (meats, olives, capers etc wrapped in corn dough and a banana leaf and cooked) sold at "solidarity" prices (PSUV)

Traditional Venezuelan toys for sale at cheaper prices, by their creators, at a PDVSA sponsored Christmas fair in Caracas (Noticiero Cultural)

The obligatory traditional Venezuelan Christmas meal: hallaca, ham bread, potato salad, and meat (Encontrate)

Mercal at the Christmas fair of state iron ore extraction company Ferraminera. Workers and community members can buy food and toys at discount, recieve ID cards, and a host of other services provided by the social fund of the state company (Ewan Robertson/Venezuelanalysis.com)

The contradictions: This “Socialist gift fair”, organised by PSUV Merida governor Marcos Diaz, sold dolls, barbies, trucks, cars, and television screens at somewhat discounted prices (Tamara Pearson/ Venezuelanalysis.com)

Usually where university buses stop, this is just a small part of the street stall take over of central Merida that happens around Christmas time, as many go purchase crazy. In the background you can see campaign posters for one of the opposition candidates, Leopoldo Lopez (Tamara Pearson/Venezuelanalysis.com)