History of the Sorteo de Navidad (Spain’s Christmas Lottery)

December 21, 2021 00:19:12
History of the Sorteo de Navidad (Spain’s Christmas Lottery)
Brian's Spain Domain
History of the Sorteo de Navidad (Spain’s Christmas Lottery)

Dec 21 2021 | 00:19:12

/

Show Notes

Every December 22, much of Spain braces itself for a 3-hour televised event that few people in the the world would associate with this festive season: a chance to make their Yuletide just a little bit cheerier by winning the annual Christmas lottery. This is a tradition that goes back over 200 years, believe it or not, and it is estimated that over 75% of the adult population in Spain plays; and with a total payout of 2.4 billion euros, many consider it the largest in the world. More than a celebration of gambling, it’s a deeply-rooted custom that not even the Spanish Civil War could stop. Learn more about its history in this week’s podcast. Enjoy!

You can subscribe to our podcasts on Spotify, Amazon and Castos. Or if you wish to support Brian’s Spain Domain, check us out at https://www.patreon.com/briansspaindomain

Other Episodes

Episode 0

July 06, 2022 00:17:12
Episode Cover

The Day The Beatles Came to Spain

At the height of Beatlemania, the Fab Four from Liverpool flew into the heart of Spain, still under the firm grip of a fascist...

Listen

Episode 0

February 21, 2022 00:14:07
Episode Cover

Alfonso XIII and the European War Office: Spain's great humanitarian effort during WWI

Spain stayed out of both world wars, but it was not indifferent to what was going on near its borders. One person, King Alfonso...

Listen

Episode 0

May 01, 2025 00:19:50
Episode Cover

Have there ever been any Spanish popes?

The recent death of Pope Francis I has stirred up a lot of papal talk about who will be the next pontiff. The field...

Listen