Venezuelans have been through a lot this year: the death of President Hugo Chavez followed by an uncertain election, the downfall of businesses accused of waging economic war against the government -- and now a delay in the release of inflation data, which has sparked controversy.

While many are still hopeful for stability in the upcoming year, they can't seem to get a break for Christmas as inflation has compromised its ingredients for its traditional tamales, otherwise known as "hallaca."  The Venezuelan dish typically involves a mixture of beef, pork, chicken, raisins, capers, and olives wrapped in cornmeal dough, folded within plantain leaves, tied with strings, and boiled or steamed afterwards.

"With inflation near a two-decade high of 54 percent, prices for many of the treat's trademark ingredients have skyrocketed beyond the reach of many family budgets. And just finding some of the fixings can be an ordeal, with everything from vegetable oil to beef hard to come by as government price controls discourage production and contribute to record levels of food shortages," The Associated Press reports.

Last week, the AP spoke with 35-year-old Maria Elena Ortiz, who was in a Caracas supermarket in search of the 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of corn flour she and her family need to make their annual batch of about 80 hallacas. 

"It's very sad. I don't know yet if we'll be able to make any this year," she said.

While tamales are common throughout Mexico, Central America and parts of South America, the AP notes, the Venezuelan variant stands out for its mixture of European, indigenous and African flavors that reflect the nation's multicultural roots.

Oftentimes, families come together for "two-day cooking marathons" that involves chopping, slow-cooking the stew and pin-rolling the corn dough, which is a rich cultural component to the Christmas celebration.

There are several different theories that describe the orgin of the hallaca -- "one popular version holds that it arose during colonial times when, around Christmas, slaves would collect food scraps left by plantation owners and use them to spice up their daily diet of cornmeal dough."

Is the Venezuelan government trying to remedy the situation?

According to the AP, President Nicolas Maduro is stepping up efforts to guarantee Venezuelans that they'll find the necessary ingredients, many of them imported, and that their wallets won't be emptied.

"The government is organizing special food caravans to distribute ingredients at 'fair' prices. It's also increased inspections of supermarkets to prevent retailers from charging 'speculative' prices.

"The Food Ministry insists that shoppers at state-run supermarkets need to spend no more than 13.19 bolivars per hallaca, or about $2 at the official exchange rate, to make a typical batch of 50. But shopping at such discount retailers can be trying: Lines are long, supplies are rationed and government-trained civilian militias patrol the aisles."

According to Reuters, Maduro's price reduction campaign has so far focused on home appliances, car parts and home hardware items that comprise a relatively small portion of the index compared with weightier day-to-day expenses such as food, transportation and housing.