It’s a tradition: every December 22 in Spain the Christmas lottery takes place. It is the most popular lottery in the world, celebrated since 1812, with this year nearly 2.6 billion euros at stake.
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It’s hard to escape the Christmas lottery if you live in Spain. Every December 22, since 1812, the appointment has been made. There are very few people who don’t play, since around 75% of the population tried their luck this year. This year, each Spaniard will spend on average 72 euros. The draw begins at 9 a.m. at the Teatro Real, Madrid’s Opera House.
The show is broadcast live on television and radio. For long hours, the schoolchildren of San Ildefonso middle school draw dozens of winning numbers, sung at the top of their lungs. The most popular: “el Gordo”, the jackpot, a jackpot of several million euros that makes the Spaniards dream. In total, nearly 2.6 billion euros will be distributed among the winners today.
Spaniards come from all over the country to meet in Madrid
Francisco is one of the followers, but his passion goes further. For almost ten years, he has been traveling from Huesca, in the Spanish Pyrenees, to watch the draw live in Madrid. There are many of them, like him, who make the trip. “This represents an illusion that I would like to see one day become reality. We all know each other here”, he explains.
“Every year we are the same people who come, have a good time and enjoy. We entertain people and we have fun too.”
Francisco, inhabitant of the Spanish Pyreneesat Franceinfo
Francisco dreams of winning the jackpot, “el Gordo”. He hopes that the schoolchildren of San Ildefonso will “sing” his number this Friday. Béatrice also believes strongly in it, but this young person from Valencia has already accomplished her dream: coming to Madrid with her mother to experience this event live.
“It’s the start of the Christmas festivities. It’s endearing whether you have numbers or not. When I was little, my parents often played. My mother always watched the lottery. I was next to her and we watched together, when I didn’t have school. We are lucky to be here this year, as a family.”.
With family and friends, the Spanish Christmas lottery is a unique social phenomenon. A moment of sharing and communion that touches young and old.