With the year 2026 just around the corner, defiant Venezuelans are preparing to celebrate the new year despite the mounting U.S.pressure on the government of President Nicolas Maduro.
Over the past few months, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has ramped up a pressure campaign against Maduro with a military buildup in the Caribbean off Venezuela's coast and more than two dozen U.S. strikes on boats in the region that Washington claims were trafficking drugs.
In addition, the United States has imposed sanctions and blockades against Venezuela and even threatened to launch military operations against the oil-rich South American nation.
President Maduro and his government have consistently denied any connections to drug trafficking, asserting that the United States is seeking a leadership change in Venezuela, so as to take control of the country's natural resources.
However, the escalating tensions have not dampened Venezuelans' enthusiasm for greeting the New Year. On the streets and in markets in central Caracas, the usual hustle and bustle continue, and stalls are filled with fresh produce and other foods for the holiday. People are now busy making purchases and merchants are stocking up on their supplies.
To welcome the New Year, Venezuelans usually eat 12 grapes for good luck, make and serve the hallacas dish, a festive symbol of Venezuelan culture, and deck out their homes with flowers, among other traditions.
According to Alicia, who has been selling fruits for many years at a local farmers' market, her business has barely been affected by the tensions with the United States. But she acknowledged that prices have gone up to some extent due to shipping disruptions from the U.S. blockades.
"The grapes we sell here mainly come from the United States and Peru. Due to the recent tense situation, the shipping time for imported fruits has significantly increased. Previously, it only took 15 days for them to arrive, but now it takes about a month. Also, the fruit prices have risen. For instance, oranges used to cost around 7 U.S. dollars per kilogram, but now the price has gone up to approximately 10 dollars," she said.
Jose Pacheco sells banana leaves used as the wrapping material for preparing the traditional hallacas, a bundled of corn dough stuffed with beef, pork, and chicken, and topped with many ingredients. He also said customers have kept coming to his stall to buy the leaves to make their beloved holiday dish.
"The United States is indeed attempting to overthrow our government, but they will not succeed. We are a free sovereign state. We will fight to the end. No matter how the situation gets, we will never give up our tradition of eating hallacas during the New Year. No matter how expensive the prices are, we will do our best to live a good life," he said.
Echoing Pacheco, others expressed their wishes for the New Year despite the uncertainties ahead.
"I hope all my family will be in good health and everything will go well in the New Year. As for my country, I hope everything can become better," said another female merchant at the farmers' market.
"In the New Year, I hope we will all be healthy and our families live in happiness and peace," said a Caracas resident.
Defiant Venezuelans prepare to greet New Year amid mounting US pressure
