Spain’s ‘Fat One’ Christmas lottery prizes start rolling out with a whopping £2.2billion to be shared – and lucky main winning number is revealed
Holders of lottery tickets number 88008 are celebrating in Spain after winning the top prize in the huge Spanish Christmas lottery.
The immensely popular lottery El Gordo – 'the fat one' – distributed a total of 2.6 billion euros in prizes this year, much of which in relatively small amounts.
Holders of €20 tickets with the main prize number will receive €400,000 after taxes.
Street and bar parties normally take place, where the winners uncork bottles of sparkling wine and sing and dance.
The event will be broadcast nationally from the Teatro Real opera house in Madrid.
Holders of lottery tickets number 88008 are celebrating in Spain after winning the top prize in the huge Spanish Christmas lottery. Pictured: Employees at Dona Manolita celebrate the sale of the first prize-winning ticket in the Spanish Christmas lottery 'El Gordo', in Madrid, Spain, December 22
The immensely popular lottery El Gordo – 'the fat one' – distributed a total of 2.6 billion euros in prizes this year, much of which in relatively small amounts
The winning numbers were declared by children from the San Ildefonso school in Madrid. The children took balls with the ticket numbers and corresponding prizes on them from two giant rolling drums. The children then sang the winning songs
Buying and sharing tickets, known in Spanish as 'decimos' (tithes), in the run-up to Christmas is an important tradition among families, friends and colleagues
Buying and sharing tickets, known in Spanish as 'decimos' (tithes), in the run-up to Christmas is an important tradition among families, friends, colleagues and in bars, sports and social clubs.
The winning numbers were declared by children from the San Ildefonso school in Madrid. The children took balls with the ticket numbers and corresponding prizes on them from two giant rolling drums.
Both figures sing to a tune that everyone in Spain knows.
In the weeks before, queues form at lottery offices, especially at those where prize-winning tickets have been sold in the past.
Other lotteries have larger individual top prizes.
Lottery workers prepare the lottery numbers with the winning prizes before the start of the draw of the traditional Spanish Christmas lottery 'El Gordo' at Teatro Real, in Madrid, December 22
While other lotteries have larger individual top prizes, Spain's Christmas lottery, held on December 22 every year, is ranked as the richest in the world in terms of total prize money.
Children from San Ildefonso School in Madrid sing the numbers of one of the top prizes of awarded lottery balls at the Teatro Real opera house in Madrid during the Spanish Christmas lottery draw known as El Gordo, December 22
People in costumes wait for the start of the draw of the traditional Spanish Christmas lottery 'El Gordo' (The Fat One), at Teatro Real, in Madrid, Spain, December 22
A man dressed as a pope holds up his ticket before the El Gordo lottery drawing
Workers at Dona Manolita celebrate the sale of three lottery numbers for the 5th prize in the Spanish Christmas lottery 'El Gordo' (The Fat One), in Madrid, Spain on December 22
Pedro Valderas hugs his friend Roberto to celebrate winning the first prize of the traditional Spanish Christmas lottery 'El Gordo' (The Fat One), outside the restaurant where he bought his ticket, in Madrid, Spain on December 22
However, the Spanish Christmas Lottery, held on December 22 every year, is ranked as the richest in the world due to the total prize money involved.
Spain established its national lottery as a charity in 1763, during the reign of King Carlos III.
Later its purpose became to strengthen the state treasury. It also helps various charities.
The December 22 lottery started in 1812. Since the beginning, the children of the San Ildefonso school have been singing the prizes.