Spain's beloved Christmas tradition, the El Gordo lottery, kicked off the holiday season this year with jubilant celebrations, as participants reveled with sparkling wine and exuberant cheers. The anticipation culminated on December 22, when the draw of Spain's national lottery, treasured for its massive prizes and history, took place amid the grandeur of Madrid's Teatro Real.
This year, the total prize pot reached €2.71 billion (approximately $2.83 billion), marking only slight growth from the previous year's €2.59 billion. The top prize, famously known as "El Gordo" (The Fat One), was awarded to multiple winners holding the ticket number 72480, which was primarily sold in the northern city of Logrono, the capital of the wine-rich La Rioja region.
While Logrono celebrated, the influence of El Gordo extended far beyond as the ticket buying patterns reflected shared hopes. Many of the winning tickets were purchased by members of the Club Deportivo Distrito Olimpico, based in Madrid's working-class San Blas-Canillejas neighborhood, where the holiday spirit was especially amplified after recent floods devastated parts of Valencia.
Each year, the lottery draw attracts enormous attention and heartfelt dedication from the public. Participants, including families, colleagues, and friends, band together to buy tickets and share the hopes of winning. The standard ticket price is €20, with winners receiving prizes as significant as €400,000, all before taxes. This collaborative spirit helps generate excitement and connection among communities during the festive season.
Over the years, El Gordo's tradition has captured the heart of Spanish culture; it traces its roots back to 1812 during the tumultuous times of the Napoleonic Wars, where the lottery was initiated to finance the nation’s fight for independence. It is today the oldest continuous lottery on record and has evolved, generating funds for charitable causes post-operational costs and payouts.
During the live drawing, which is televised nationally, students from Madrid’s elite San Ildefonso school have become synonymous with the event, singing the drawn numbers and imparting hope to millions. The broadcast offers a mix of pageantry and emotional anticipation, with viewers outfitted in Santa hats and traditional costumes, clutching their lucky numbers tightly as they await the results with bated breath.
This year's draw also included significant prizes for regions still recovering from devastating floods earlier this year, particularly within Valencia. The third echelons of prize money were distributed to areas such as Alzira and Catarroja, and various local towns received shares worth hundreds of thousands of euros. The residents, hit hard by the weather calamity, found solace and joy amid their struggles as lottery winnings entered communities padded with dire needs.
"I would like the lottery to go to Valencia. Honestly, I think it should go to the affected areas. We'd like to see aid," expressed Vicent Jacinto, dressed up in traditional Valencian attire. He was one among many hopeful participants at the event.
The symbolic culmination of El Gordo reflects much more than just monetary gain; it is about the community spirit, the tradition of sharing joy, and perhaps most significantly, the sense of hope it bestows upon those longing for change or relief. María Ángeles, who traveled with friends to witness the live event, captured this sentiment poignantly: "The point of coming to see the lottery is the hope."
With hundreds of smaller prizes awarded alongside the major ones, the format is crafted to distribute happiness across the widest segments of participants. Even those who walked away with only minor winnings left with joyous memories and shared experiences, reflecting the essence of the lottery as it embodies the festive spirit of Spain during Christmas.
Therefore, as Spain gears up for Christmas, the echoes of jubilant celebrations surrounding El Gordo resonate powerfully, firmly establishing it as not only the world’s largest lottery, by total prize money but also as one of the most cherished traditions embraced by its nation.
