It’s already beginning to smell a lot like Christmas.

That’s the verdict of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, at least, who has announced he is moving the holiday from December to October this year.

It’s a novel approach to the age-old pastime of politicians trying to win favor with the public, especially after a divisive and highly contested election that was followed by a crackdown on dissent.

More than five weeks after the election — which both Maduro’s governing party and the…