christmas lottery

Subscribe to NPR's Up First Email

People wait for the start of the draw at Madrid's Teatro Real opera house during Spain's bumper Christmas lottery draw known as El Gordo, or The Fat One, in Madrid, Spain, Friday, Dec. 22, 2023. Paul White/AP hide caption

toggle caption

Paul White/AP

Europe

Spain's Christmas lottery 'El Gordo' starts dishing out billions of dollars in prizes

December 22, 2023 • The immensely popular lottery will distribute a total of $2.8 billion in prizes this year, much of it in small prizes. Street and bar celebrations normally break out with winners singing and dancing.

Spain begins drawing for the $2.7 billion 'El Gordo' lottery

A man with a suit and hat decorated in printed lottery tickets stands outside the famous Doña Manolita lottery ticket shop in downtown Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. Paul White/AP hide caption

toggle caption

Paul White/AP

Europe

Spain begins drawing for the $2.7 billion 'El Gordo' lottery

December 22, 2022 • Spain kicked off the festive period Thursday with the celebration of one of its most iconic events, the bumper Christmas lottery that is the world's richest for the total prize money involved.