- Title: Celebrations in Spain as winning ticket for 'Fat One' lottery revealed
- Date: 22nd December 2019
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (DECEMBER 22, 2019) (REUTERS) STAFF AT DONA MANOLITA LOTTERY SHOP CELEBRATING THE SALE OF THE WINNING "EL GORDO" NUMBER 26590 AS A STAFF MEMBER UNCORKS A BOTTLE OF CAVA AND CONFETTI EXPLODES IN THE AIR STAFF MEMBERS HOLDING PAPER SIGNS WITH THE WINNING "26590" NUMBER PRINTED ON THEM STAFF OUTSIDE SHOP DONA MANOLITA STAFF MEMBER OPENING ANOTHER BOTTLE OF CAVA AND OTHER STAFF MEMBERS CHEERING BOTTLE OF CAVA WITH "DONA MANOLITA" LABEL SIGN IN SHAPE OF ARROW READING IN SPANISH "EL GORDO CHRISTMAS LOTTERY WAS WON HERE" / STAFF HOLDING PAPER SIGN WITH FIRST PRIZE WINNING NUMBER 26590 STAFF DOING MEXICAN WAVE INSIDE SHOP (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) UNIDENTIFIED MEMBER OF DONA MANOLITA'S STAFF SAYING: "I feel very happy, very happy and satisfied. We have worked all year for this. This is our reward, to have El Gordo." AWNING READING "DONA MANOLITA" / STAFF OUTSIDE SHOP AWNING READING "DONA MANOLITA" / MEDIA OUTSIDE SHOP STAFF CELEBRATING AND CHANTING, "FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD" / CAVA BOTTLE BEING UNCORKED AND STAFF CHEERING AS THEY CELEBRATE THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE SECOND PRIZE NUMBER WAS ALSO SOLD AT DONA MANOLITA VARIOUS OF MEDIA AND SHOP STAFF GATHERED OUTSIDE DONA MANOLITA SHOP BARCELONA, SPAIN (DECEMBER 22, 2019) (REUTERS) STAFF MEMBER AT THE LOTERIA VIAJERA SHOP OPENING A CAVA BOTTLE STAFF OF SHOP SHAKING BOTTLE AS HE SPRAYS CAVA IN DIRECTION OF CROWD AND MEDIA LOTTERY SHOP STAFF HUGGING AND KISSING LOTTERY SHOP OWNER LAURA PUENTE SMILING AS TEARS ARE RUNNING DOWN HER FACE PUENTE TAKING A SELFIE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LAURA PUENTE, LOTTERY SELLER, SAYING: "It will be people from the neighbourhood (who won), humble people, this neighbourhood is wonderful, it's humble, hardworking people and hopefully this will fix their life." WINNING 26590 NUMBER IN SHOP/ PUENTE'S HUSBAND (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LAURA PUENTE, LOTTERY SHOP STAFF, SAYING: "For me it will be a good Christmas, with this satisfaction the Three Wise men and Father Christmas have already come, I no longer need any gifts, this is enough for me." VARIOUS OF PUENTE, HER HUSBAND AND CHILD POSING OUTSIDE LOTTERY SHOP HOLDING SIGN WITH WINNING NUMBER FOR THE FIRST PRIZE
- Embargoed: 5th January 2020 11:54
- Keywords: Christmas lottery El Gordo Spain celebrations lottery winning number
- Location: MADRID & BARCELONA, SPAIN
- City: MADRID & BARCELONA, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Human Interest / Brights / Odd News,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001BB24F9J
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Lucky punters celebrated across Spain on Sunday (December 22) after winning a share of the jackpot in the country's 2.38 billion euro ($2.64 billion) Christmas lottery, known as El Gordo (the Fat One).
The rules of the draw allow for multiple purchases of the same numbers, meaning this year's winning ticket - 26590 - was sold by kiosks in many cities, including Madrid, Barcelona and Seville.
At lottery shops around the country where the winning number, 26590, was sold, staff popped bottles of cava as a crowds gathered around to join in the celebration.
The legendary Dona Manolita lottery shop struck lucky this year selling not only the number for top prize El Gordo, but also the number for the second, third and fifth prizes.
It's considered one of the luckiest vendors in the country and has been in business for over 100 years.
"I'm very happy. We have worked all year to achieve this. This is our reward, to sell 'El Gordo'," an employee said.
Dating back to 1812, the lottery has become a major part of Spain's festive calendar, developing an array of traditions over the years.
Rather than creating a few big winners, the prize draw is designed to allow as many people as possible a small win or to at least break even.
In the months leading up to the draw, local bars, companies and associations split tickets among themselves, hoping to celebrate the windfall with their patrons.
Spaniards are often loyal to particular vendors, sometimes making an annual trek to stores considered to be particularly lucky. Numbers echoing the dates of major events such as the death of a pope or a royal wedding often sell out.
On the night before the event hundreds of revellers, some decked out in fancy dress, queue up for a seat in Madrid's Teatro Real, where pairs of school children pick the winning numbers from two revolving orbs and sing them out to the crowd.
A single ticket costs 20 euros, offering up to 400,000 euros in prize money, before taxes.
(Production: Jordi Rubio, Luis Felipe Fernandez, Guillermo Martinez, Julien Hennequin, Catherine Macdonald) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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