Spain's famous Christmas lottery, El Gordo (The Fat One), sprinkled a whopping $3.26 billion in prizes this year, edging past last year's $3.18 billion pot. Young and old alike have been swept up in the festive frenzy — but this December, the biggest winners were from Leon province, still recovering from wildfires that tore through the region this summer.
Winner Laura, a resident of Leon, shared her joy: "I can hardly believe it," she told Cadena SER, tears of relief escaping after a summer nobody wants to relive. It's stories like hers that remind us how a bit of luck can spark hope.
The draw took place at Madrid's majestic Teatro Real, where pupils from San Ildefonso school have been picking the numbers from two rotating globes for over 200 years. Imagine the scene: Santa hats, regional costumes, and personal lucky charms filling the queue for hours on end — the ultimate holiday spirit! ✨🎅
There was even a brief buzz when a small group of protesters inside the theatre voiced pro-Palestinian slogans before the show went on. But the lottery mania soon took over again, as families, friends, and colleagues pool cash to buy "décimos" (10th tickets) hoping one lucky number will change their year.
On average, Spaniards spend $78 on their lottery dreams. A single décimo costs $23 and can score you 10 percent of the prize pot — not bad for a few bucks! For us everywhere, it's a reminder that holiday traditions, big or small, can unite communities in surprising ways. 💸🎉
Reference(s):
Spain's Christmas lottery prizes brings cheer to wildfire-hit Leon
cgtn.com
