One of the lottery offices already seeing this activity is Lotería del Rosario, located on Calle Don Jaime I. Its owner, Alejandro Aznar, acknowledges that the campaign has got off to a stronger-than-expected start. “It normally begins in mid-November, after the announcement, but this year we have had queues since the end of October,” he explains.
QUEUES START EARLIER THIS YEAR
Aznar says the situation has surprised them, although they are also pleased about it. “We are delighted on the one hand and surprised on the other,” he says. The lottery seller also recalls that the Christmas Lottery draw has a strong social component, as many customers buy tickets to share, while numerous companies also come in to reserve their numbers.
Customers begin queuing to buy tickets. Photo: Aragón Press
Lotería del Rosario is also accustomed to experiencing the joy of prize wins up close. The office distributed part of the El Niño jackpot earlier this year and is often lucky around this time. “We always get a little something at Christmas,” Aznar says, emphasizing that even a small prize can bring significant joy to those who have been waiting for the draw for months.
As Zaragoza moves toward the switching-on of its Christmas lights and the streets begin preparing for the coming weeks, the lottery once again becomes one of the first rituals of the season. Choosing a number, sharing it with family members or colleagues, and keeping the ticket until December 22 marks the true beginning of Christmas for many residents of Zaragoza.
