El Gordo beckons in Spanish Christmas lottery
El Gordo lures in the Spanish Christmas lottery
The Spanish Christmas lottery is an event that, according to some media statements, even eclipses the Christmas festival. When on the morning of the 22. When the winning numbers are drawn in December, almost all of Spain is sitting in front of the television.
Lucky lottery booths
It already starts with where the tickets are bought. To buy them cheaply on the net detracts from the custom and the anticipation. Quite a few gamblers simply swear by the place and circumstances of their ticket purchase. There are traditions of sharing tickets with family, colleagues or the soccer club.
Certain lottery booths are said to magically attract the winnings, z.B. the lot kiosk “Doña Manolita” in the center of Madrid.
Lottery tickets at a lottery booth | Photo: meineresterampe, pixabay.com, CC0 Public Domain
Pilgrimage to the witch’s nose
Starting in the fall of each year, scores of Spaniards travel to the village of Sort in the Pyrenees, with tourist buses crowding the otherwise quiet main street. Sort is a Catalan word and means “luck”. In the place is the lottery office Bruixa d’Or, the “Gold Witch”. In previous years, there were main prizes and numerous side prizes here. The reporters of various media interview the lottery players, interpret omens and take pictures around the bet. The gold witch with giant wart and brush broom stands as a plastic in the lottery office. If you want to succeed, rub your ticket against the witch’s nose.
Magic numbers
Every year there are magical ticket numbers that are supposed to carry the prize. 2014 was this z.B. the 17114. On this day, the 17. January 2014, formed the party “Podemos”, which at the time was considered the novelty in Spain’s politics. Another magic number in 2014 was 02614, which marked the abdication of King Juan Carlos on the 2nd of December. June 2014 has as a basis. Lottery ticket number 19614 was loaded with hope, because on 19. June 2014, heir to the throne Felipe entered the service.
Heaped lots
In 2015, the main prize “El Gordo” fell on the ticket number 79140. The 160 partial tickets won, each ticket holder got his 4 million euros paid out. A lot of bills with the 79140 had been sold in Roquetas de Mar in Spain’s southeast. The operator of the local lottery office had sold 136 of them alone. José Martín, the lottery ticket salesman who runs the lottery office, found out about it at the bank counter and was surprised. He wanted to withdraw money to pay out the smaller prizes.
Often the winners are Spaniards who can really use the success. In 2013, a huge share of the main prize went to the Madrid working-class suburb of Leganés, where the economic crisis had left its mark. In 2011, even a whole region won a total of 120 million euros, especially the village of Sodeto gained profits. All residents except one person had purchased at least one ticket, on each came a prize of 50000.00 euros. Costis Mitsotakis became known in the media as “Man without a ticket”.
Blessing for the tax office
The actual main winner of the Spanish Christmas lottery is the tax office. The first Christmas lottery was held to provide revenue for the state without directly burdening taxpayers. It still serves this purpose today, because participation is voluntary. For all premiums over 2500.00 euros, 20 percent “luck tax” will be due. The ten ticket of the main prize has a value of 400000.00 euros, of which remains after tax 32000.00 euros.
