CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — There’s happiness, and then there’s Venezuelan happiness. It feels sweeter. Louder. Deeper.
Maybe because it doesn’t arrive as often. Or because it has been repressed by security forces and self-censored to avoid jail. Or because it seems collectively and individually unattainable.
But the nation felt it Wednesday. It cried, yelled, danced, hugged, and drank after Venezuela’s 3-2 victory over the United States in the World Baseball Classic final the previous night brought out the emotion.
“We hadn’t expressed this happiness that we want to shout,” said hairdresser Deyanira Machado as she celebrated outside a beauty salon in Caracas, the capital.
Unlike so much here, the score on televisions across the country was final. It was not going to change in the coming minutes or days. It was not subject to interpretation. And the young and old, politically active or not, rich and poor exhaled after holding their breath for years.
“We had that happiness stored away to unleash it properly one day, like last night, and even better than last night,” Machado added.
The victory followed a tumultuous start to the year for Venezuelans.
Venezuelans witnessed their long-time authoritarian president, Nicolás Maduro, being spirited away by U.S. military and emerging in New York City as a prisoner. The White House’s attempts to negotiate with ruling-party loyalists instead of political figures further fueled public sentiment.
As thousands of Venezuelans abroad celebrated Maduro’s fall, fear loomed over those in the country, with government repression stifling any public outcry. Celebrating even small wins became a risk, with social media interactions putting citizens at the risk of jail.
Nevertheless, Venezuelans adapted, focusing on survival while navigating everyday challenges, including hyperinflation that turned necessities into luxuries.
In a moment of solidarity, acting president Delcy Rodríguez declared a national “day of joy” following the game, granting a holiday for most. The celebrations, which burst forth instantly after the game's conclusion, echoed across the capital as horns honked and pots and pans clattered throughout Caracas.
People filled public spaces singing the national anthem amid tears of joy, grocery carts overflowing with beer and celebratory items.
Joy illuminated the streets and social media, with vibrant displays of the national flag hung from windows and waved in public. As hospital employee Lanjhonier Lozada noted amidst the jubilant throng, “This championship isn’t just about a baseball game,” conveying the deep connection between national pride and the victory.
For many Venezuelans, the celebration also served as an uplifting moment—reminding them of the dreams their children hold in local leagues and their potential futures in Major League Baseball.
As the players proudly lifted their championship trophy, they resurrected the hopes of millions back home. “This triumph isn’t just celebrated in Venezuela. In every corner of the world, there is a Venezuelan,” mom Yenny Reyes expressed with conviction, hopeful for a brighter future reliant on this pivotal victory.
