Thousands of people got up early to attend the Naviferias (Christmas Fairs)  and get their chance to buy one  of 250,000 hams  at $8

Some said that they had been in line for more than 12 hours to beat the rush and authorities brought the opening forward to 7 a.m. The fairs, organized by  the Agricultural Marketing Institute (IMA) also sell vegetables at low cost including sacks of rice.