Every year, when December arrives, the whole country stops for one of the year’s most anticipated events: ‘El Gordo de Navidad’. It’s not just a lottery jackpot—it’s a collective ritual that brings families, friends, and even Spanish language students together. That magical moment, so uniquely Spanish, is awaited by everyone, young and old alike.

The History Behind ‘El Gordo’

The Christmas Lottery goes back to 1812, when Spain was in the midst of a war against Napoleon’s troops, facing a deep economic crisis and coming up with creative ways to finance its weakened military. Back then, a ticket cost 40 reales, and the jackpot (aka: El Gordo) was 8,000 pesetas. Nowadays, El Gordo prize is 4 million euros.

It wasn’t until 1892 that the Christmas draw officially became known as the “Sorteo de Navidad” and was set on December 22 as the official date. In 1957, the draw was televised for the first time, bringing it into millions of homes.

*Interesting fact: during the Spanish Civil War, in 1938, two draws were held—one in Barcelona and another in Burgos—showing the country’s division at the time.

How It Works: The ‘Décimos’ System

So, how does this special draw actually work? The key is in the famous ‘décimos’ (decimals). Each lottery ticket is divided into décimos—smaller shares with a unique number that people buy. These décimos allow people across the whole country to take part and share the excitement of winning—even if it’s just a part of the big prize.

The Big Day: December 22nd

On the day of the draw, excitement and nerves are in the air. A hum of anticipation, bets, superstition, and fervent hope fill the streets since the early morning.

The event is held in the ‘Teatro Real de Madrid’, where the live audience wears creative costumes to be be televised to the entire country. For hours, the children from the San Ildefonso School sing the winning numbers of the various prizes, and when El Gordo’s winning number is announced, joy, hugs, and tears erupt. Friends and neighbours often celebrate together, highlighting a tradition where the experience, win or lose, is deeply communal.

In this video you can see the emotion of two girls from San Ildefonso School singing the Gordo prize.

Sharing is Caring

In Spain, the Christmas Lottery is all about sharing. Many people buy décimos together or even give it out as a Christmas present—whether to family, coworkers, or friends—giving someone a décimo as a present is a way to show love and care, as it is a way wishing luck and fortune to your loved ones.

This culture of sharing is also present in other Barcelona festivals, such as Sant Jordi, where collectiveness, community and tradition take over the streets. But more to that in a future article.

The Christmas Lottery in the Classroom

If you’re learning Spanish or planning to come to Barcelona in December, this Christmas Lottery is a fantastic opportunity to practice the language. It’s great for working on expressions and grammar like:

Wishes:

  • “Ojalá me toque el Gordo” (I hope I win the Gordo/jackpot)
  • “Espero que salga mi número” (I hope my number comes up)

Conditionals:

  • “¿Qué harías si te tocara la lotería?” (What would you do if you won the lottery?)
  • “Si ganara, viajaría por todo el mundo” (If I won, I’d travel the world)

Future tense:

  • “Este año compraré un décimo con mis compañeros” (This year I’ll buy a décimo with my classmates)
  • “El 22 de diciembre veré la lotería en la televisión” (On December 22nd I’ll watch the lottery on TV)

Learn How to Say “¡Me ha tocado el Gordo!” in Spanish!

If you want to truly feel part of this tradition, we invite you to come to our school and learn how to say that magical phrase: “¡Me ha tocado el Gordo!” (I’ve won the Gordo!).

Feeling lucky? Sign up to one of our Spanish courses today and start experiencing Christmas the Spanish way.