The Spanish Christmas Lottery is one of the world’s largest lottery draws. It’s celebrated every Dec. 22, with a payout of more than 2 billion euros. There are scores of grand prizes – thousands of people cash in on some kind of winning ticket each year. The lottery – commonly referred to as El Gordo for its large sum – dates back to the 18th century, when King Carlos III brought the idea from Naples, and it has been celebrated every year since 1812 – even through the country’s civil war.
