\"El Gordo\" (Spanish for \"The Fat Man\") is a unique holiday lottery that has great cultural and social significance in Spain. It is held every year on December 22 and is one of the oldest and largest lotteries in the world. For millions of Spaniards, the El Gordo drawing is a tradition and a symbol of hope for good fortune, marking an important opening of the holiday season.

History of El Gordo

The Christmas Lottery, officially known as the \"Lotería de Navidad,\" was started in 1812, during the Napoleonic Wars, as a way to raise funds for the reconstruction of Spain. Since then, the drawing has been held every year without fail, making it one of the longest-running lotteries in the world. El Gordo quickly gained popularity throughout the country, and its tradition has endured both times of peace and war.

How does El Gordo work?

The El Gordo drawing is distinguished by an unusual numbering and prize system. Each ticket has a five-digit number (from 00000 to 99999), and each number is printed in hundreds of \"series,\" allowing multiple versions of the same number to be sold. For example, if the number winning the first prize was printed in 160 series, 160 people could win the grand prize.

Fates are often purchased jointly by groups of friends, family, employees or villagers, which increases the chances of winning. Group participation in the purchase of lottery tickets creates a special sense of unity and excitement, since any winnings are shared among all members of the group.

Reward system

The Christmas lottery offers thousands of prizes, the most important of which is the \"El Gordo\" - the main prize. The total prize pool often reaches more than 2 billion euros, and \"El Gordo\" alone is a jackpot worth 4 million euros for the whole number. The prize pool also includes smaller winnings, called \"pedrea,\" which are paid out to thousands of participants, making the lottery one of the most anticipated and popular pre-Christmas events in the country.

Draw day: a national event

The El Gordo draw, broadcast on television and radio, attracts millions of viewers. The drawing process is unique and festive, with children from the College of San Ildefonso in Madrid singing the numbers of the lot and the prizes assigned to them. These children\'s performances are an important part of the tradition and touch the hearts of spectators every year. The drawing itself lasts several hours and is full of excitement, as the anticipation of the \"fat man\" engages the audience until the last moments.

More than a win

For Spaniards, El Gordo is not only a hope for financial improvement, but also a tradition that has a social and cultural dimension. Buying lottery tickets and watching the drawing together with family or neighbors becomes a ritual that tightens ties and brings in the spirit of the holidays. Even those who do not win consider the lottery a special moment that unites the whole society.

El Gordo contemporary

In recent years, the El Gordo drawing has gained even more publicity thanks to social media and global online broadcasts. Today, the El Gordo Christmas lottery also attracts tourists and foreigners who buy tickets in hopes of winning. El Gordo\'s popularity has transcended Spain\'s borders, and its magic is attracting more and more participants from outside the country who want to feel the spirit of Spanish festivities.