Christmas decorations are put up in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, after the festive season officially began by decree of strongman President Nicolas Maduro, but the mood is not jolly. "It feels like a way to distract us from everything that's going on," says 22-year-old Valeria Ponce. "What am I supposed to celebrate? I don't even know if I'm going to make hallacas this year because I can't afford it," says a retiree, referring to a traditional Venezuelan dish. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES