The Spanish Christmas Lottery has been an annual event since 1812. It is the second oldest lottery in the world and always takes place on December 22 of each year. It is known for being the largest lottery in the world, with a prize pool of around three billion euros! The same lottery number can be sold multiple times so that many people benefit from winning.
Families and friends participate in this holiday tradition by purchasing tickets individually or pooling their money to purchase parts of a ticket. The average Spaniard spends 70 euros on tickets, known as “décimos,” and tickets can be sold months in advance. Since tickets can be quite expensive, it’s common for coworkers to join forces in hopes of sharing the wealth.
The draw is an elaborate event that lasts several hours. It is broadcast live on television and radio. The event takes place at the Teatro Real in Madrid, and schoolchildren are in charge of singing the winning numbers. It starts with smaller prizes until they reach the largest prize known as “El Gordo,” or the fat one.
Beyond the economic aspect, the Spanish Christmas Lottery serves as the start of the Christmas season. In short, the cultural importance and enduring popularity of this holiday tradition make it a uniquely Spanish experience that resonates far beyond the boundaries of the lottery itself.
