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El Gordo: When Spain sits in the waiting room of dreams

Mallorca, December, 16 2024
El Gordo is more than just a lottery - it's an event full of excitement, tradition and the perfect gift idea for the Christmas season.
TEXT   isla editorial team (nt)

TAGS   Doña Manolita Lose El Gordo Mallorca El Gordo Christmas Lottery Win El Gordo Lotería de Navidad Spain Spanish Christmas lottery Christmas present Mallorca

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Imagine half of Spain sitting nervously in front of the television or listening to the children singing on the radio. San Ildefonso School - for hours on end. Welcome to El Gordothe biggest and perhaps most idiosyncratic Christmas lottery in the world. On December 22, the country is transformed into an emotionally charged waiting room where hope, community and the fear of being "the idiot" who didn't play go hand in hand. And let's be honest: it's precisely this mixture that makes the magic.

Point of sale in the Puerta del Sol, Madrid Mallorca
El Gordo point of sale in Puerta del Sol, Madrid / ©Barcex

El Gordo: Thrills in community mode

The lottery, which has captivated millions year after year since 1812, is more than just a numbers draw. A ticket for 200 euros? Sounds proud, but most people only buy a ten-digit ticket. decimo - for 20 euros. Even better: you can share shares with family, friends or colleagues. This increases the joy if the main prize of 4 million euros falls on the shared number. And if not? Well, at least you feel part of the big picture.

And what about the tourists who come to Mallorca at Christmas time? For them El Gordo an opportunity to take a piece of Spanish tradition with you. Why not a Buy a lottery ticket as a Christmas present? Imagine the joy when your loved ones unpack at home - and who knows, maybe this lot will end up being worth more than you ever dreamed of. A piece of Mallorca that you can not only give, but also share. And if you don't win, at least you'll have the story of your Spanish adventure to tell over a glass of cava.

How do I get an El Gordo instant ticket?

The paper lots for El Gordo can be easily purchased in Spain - in lottery sales outlets that can be found all over the island: from small kiosks in Palma to larger outlets such as the famous Doña Manolita in Madrid, which is considered a lucky charm. But be careful: You cannot officially buy tickets online. The offers circulating online are either scams or refer to other lotteries that have nothing to do with "El Gordo". So if you want to be on the safe side, go directly to the lottery and choose your number in person. This has its very own charm.

Mallorca in El Gordo fever

El Gordo is also an integral part of the Christmas season on Mallorca. You can buy raffle tickets everywhere - in supermarkets, bakeries and even in garages. Tickets from the sales outlet are particularly popular Doña Manolitawhich attracts long queues every year.

And what happens when a whole town wins? Spain has seen this many times before: Everyone in a village is in each other's arms, celebrating and sharing the millions - an image that can be seen anew in the news every year. This collective euphoria is unique and shows that El Gordo is more than just money: it is a symbol of togetherness.

The song of the millions

Not forgetting the children from the San Ildefonso school who sing the winning numbers. Their bell-like voices, which turn the draw into an almost hypnotic ritual, have been an integral part of the lottery for decades. Anyone who is bored by this spectacle has probably never really listened. Because attention is guaranteed at the latest when the millions are called out.

Figures that make you dream

El Gordo pours out incredible 2.7 billion euros out. This makes the lottery the biggest in the world. Even if you only win a small prize, it gives you the feeling of being a winner - or at least not going away completely empty-handed. For all those who don't win anything, the consolation remains: try again next year.

Why El Gordo is more than just a lottery

Of course, it's about money - and not a little. But El Gordo is also a social phenomenon. It reflects the Spanish zest for life, which can sometimes shrug off a loss with a glass of cava. After all, it is the community that counts. Anyone who has ever experienced an entire village cheering together knows that sometimes the real prize is not the money, but the feeling of being part of something big.

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