the best anecdotes from the Christmas Lottery draw

The Christmas Lottery is one of the most anticipated moments of the year and not only because of the millions of euros it distributes, but because of the tradition and history behind it. It is the oldest draw in Spain, with more than two centuries behind it. That does not mean that, year after year, all Spaniards wait with hope and thousands of dreams for the long-awaited fat man sung in the voices of the children of the San Ildefonso school.

Today, the stalls of the Teatro Real have been filled with thousands of anonymous faces eager to witness, live and direct, the Christmas giveaway. But other popular characters have also been seen, causing a real stir among the audience present.

the best anecdotes from the Christmas Lottery draw

This has been the case of Ramon Garcia, whose presence has raised great expectations among viewers. Everyone wanted to take a photo with him. The one from Bilbao has spoken for TVE and declared: “This is the third time I have been in the Christmas draw.” And he recalled his times on the radio with nostalgia: “For years, I have been lucky enough to do it on the radio. The Christmas raffle is beautiful on TV, but on the radio it is possibly the most interesting program to do. For him timing what you have to have, the emotion, knowing how to keep time…. And on TV, “TVE has always been a reference with the Christmas draw.”

Ramón García also took advantage of the moment to remind viewers that the special starts tomorrow, December 23 Christmas Grand Prix and explained: “We have prepared three Christmas Grand Prix specials with great love. He Grand Prix It is the most family-friendly program on television. and TVE has organized three specials. It starts tomorrow, the week of Christmas Eve, the week of New Year’s Eve and Epiphany. I think it will be spectacular with the winning and finalist towns this year, 2024, and the previous year, 2023.”

Ramón García, Cristina López 'Cristinini', Wilbur and the Grand Prix heifer

However, the presenter did not come alone, but the pet heifer of the program also appeared at the Teatro Real to liven up, even more, the festive atmosphere of the venue.

The MasterChef jury

Pepe Rodríguez and Samantha Vallejo-Nájera, presenters of the new edition of MasterChef Junior, were present in the drawing room when one of the girls from San Ildefonso sang the ‘fake Gordo’, that spread ephemeral happiness throughout different parts of Spain.

Jordi Cruz, Samantha Vallejo Nájera and Pepe Rodríguez

Of course, that faded after a few minutes when the protagonist rectified and finally the number 43226 He was not blessed with four million euros, but only one thousand euros. As a curiosity, most of the series in this issue had been sold in an administration in Illescas (Toledo), where Pepe Rodríguez has his El Bohío restaurant.

Disguised lady drawing Christmas lottery

Man dressed as a bishop at the Christmas Raffle

But these are just some of the anecdotes that have been happening throughout the Draw, where like every year there are hundreds of stories that deserve to be told. It is already a classic that attendees appear dressed as anything, being Santa Claus or the Grinch the most popular. There is also no shortage of those that go for a lottery ticket or with some element of the draw.

Balls and difficult numbers

The Children from San Ildefonso also spend their time during the draw. And although they come well prepared for this moment, their nerves always play tricks on them. And this year it has been no less: from elusive balls that did not want to enter the wires of the boards; the problems with the ball extraction crank, the largest bass drum, which have required the intervention of a person in charge, etc.

There has also been no shortage of the typical numbers that little singers struggle with. Low-digit numbers are especially difficult and if not, tell Aurora, a girl who has had a hard time singing. 17 and 548.

Another moment of the draw has been starred by Angel Abaga and his peculiar way of singing the awards, as if the ball were a baton and he was an orchestra conductor. This student from San Ildefonso already sang El Gordo in 2022 with Alonso Dávalos.

Singing boy of San Ildefonso — Ángel Ábaga sang El Gordo in 2022

human stories

The best thing about the giveaway is behind some of the human stories behind the giveaway. For example, 72480, the Gordo, It was sold entirely in Logroño. But the lottery administration number 6 of the Rioja capital that sold this number returned 88 series of the 193 existing ones, with which 420 million euros have finally been distributed and the State has saved 352.

The administration of Logroño given by El Gordo

Curiously, part of that prize has arrived in Madrid. As? He Olympic District Sports Club, from the San Blas neighborhood, had shares of two euros for the first prize. Families, friends and acquaintances of the players of this modest club have been lucky. They have had a “little pinch” with which they are going to cover some hole.

Paiporta Administration with one of the fourth prizes

The third prize of the Christmas Lottery and a fourth have fallen in several towns affected by the tragic damage that devastated Valencia and some towns in Albacete, claiming hundreds of deaths. Today luck would have it that in Catarroja, the epicenter of the flood, a series of the third prize was sold, the 11,840. The celebration of the lottery has coincided with a surprise visit from the royal family to the town.

He fourth prize, 77768, It has fallen in different Valencian towns such as Alzira, Paiporta, Alaquàs, Alfafar or Sedaví. While the second quarter, 48,020, A series has been sold, 200,000 euros, in administration number 3 of Aldaia, in the Bonaire Shopping Center, also very affected by the floods of October 29. Finally, the third fifth prize, 74,778, 54,000 euros have been distributed between Paiporta, Sedaví, Alaquàs.

Source link