COUNTRY PROFILE: VENEZUELA

March 2005

COUNTRY

Formal Name: The constitution of December 15, 1999, changed

the name of the country from the Republic of Venezuela

(República de Venezuela) to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

(República Bolivariana de Venezuela).

Short Form: Venezuela.

Term for Citizen(s): Venezuelan(s).

Capital: Caracas.

Major Cities: Caracas, 1.8 million inhabitants; Zulia, 2.9 million; and Carabolo, 1.9 million (2003).

Independence: July 5, 1811, from Spain.

Public Holidays: Año Nuevo (New Year’s Day), January 1; Carnaval (Carnival), the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, movable dates in early February to early March; Día de San José (St. Joseph’s Day), March 19; Jueves Santo (Holy Thursday) and Viernes Santo (Holy Friday), movable holidays in March or April; Signing of Independence, April 19; Primero de Mayo (Labor Day), May 1; Ascension, May 20;* Corpus Christi, June 10;* Sagrado Corazón (Sacred Heart), June 18;* Battle of Carabobo, June 24; San Pedro y San Pablo (Saint Peter and Saint Paul), June 29;* Firma Acta de Independencia (Signed Act of Independence), July 5; Battle of Boyacá, August 7; Bolívar’s birthday and Battle of Lago de Maracaibo, July 24; La Asunción (Assumption), August 15;* Civil Servants’ Day, September 4; Día de la Raza (Columbus Day), October 12; Todos Santos (All Saints’ Day), November 1;* Independence of Cartagena City, November 11;* La Inmaculada Concepción (Immaculate Conception), December 8; and Navidad (Christmas Day), December 25. Note: * Movable holidays; when they do not fall on a Monday, these holidays are observed the following Monday.

Flag:

Three equal horizontal bands of yellow, blue, and red, with the coat of arms

on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of seven white, five-pointed

stars centered in the blue band.