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

August 19, 2025 00:09:33
Episode Cover

Talkin’ Spain: Madrid’s Oso y Madroño

“El Oso y el Madroño” in English translates to “The Bear and the Strawberry Tree“. It is the official symbol of Madrid, represented by...

Listen

Episode

June 26, 2025 00:17:21
Episode Cover

Famous Women in Spanish History: Beatriz Galindo (La Latina)

Ever wonder where the famous Madrid neighborhood of La Latina gets its name from? Today we’re going to tell you where and who, as...

Listen

Episode

January 26, 2024 00:18:19
Episode Cover

Let’s Open a Bottle, ep. 18: D.O. La Mancha

D.O. La Mancha. One of the largest wine regions, if not the largest wine region, in the world, and certainly the largest in Spain....

Listen