**Christmas cheer exploded across Spain on Sunday as the nation’s biggest lottery drew to a close, showering lucky winners with millions and marking the official start of the festive season.
The total prize pool for Spain’s
200-year-old
Christmas lottery, also known as “El Gordo,” reached an impressive €2.71 billion this year, slightly surpassing last year’s €2.59 billion.
El Gordo Goes to Logroño
The coveted top prize, affectionately known as “El Gordo” (“The Fat One”), landed in the hands of ticket holders in the historic city of Logroño, the capital of La Rioja province.
Schoolchildren call out the winning number of the first prize at the Theatre Royal in Madrid. Photograph: Isabel Infantes/Reuters
A Lottery Tradition
The televised draw, held at the majestic Theatre Royal in Madrid, saw eager children from San Ildefonso school unveil the winning numbers from rotating globes, their voices echoing through the historic hall.
The atmosphere was electric as audience members, who had queued for hours, donned Santa hats, festive costumes, and lucky charms, all hoping for a share of the massive jackpot.
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“I’d like the lottery to go to Valencia. Honestly, I think it should go to the affected areas,” said Vicent Jacinto, a 25-year-old dressed in a traditional Valencian outfit, referring to the devastating floods that hit the region in October. “We’d like that very much.”
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