What are the chances of winning the Christmas Gordo? Few, but many more than those that existed 200 years ago. In those days it was certainly easier to be struck by lightning – even on more than one occasion – than to win the biggest prize in one of the two types of lottery you coudl play.
But someone won and the Treasury didn’t count on it. Paying the corresponding amount – the exact amount is not known, or at least has not been documented - was something unsustainable for the exchequer at that time (in the early 1840s). So there was no choice but to agree on a solution with the winner. Which wasn’t just anyone either.
Fortune smiled on Santiago Alonso Cordero, a former muleteer from Leone (born in 1793 near Astorga) who prospered in business and who, at the time he won the prize, was a liberal deputy in the Cortes.In reality, the prize won by Alonso Cordero was not exactly the Christmas “Gordo”, which began to be called that only in 1892.It was one of the types of lottery in force at that time. It was called Primitiva to distinguish it from the modern one, born in 1812.
Its operation had some similarities to today’s Primitiva.It consisted of 90 possible numbers, among which five winners, the so-called “drawn numbers”, had to emerge. the draw included different betting methods, as explained by historian Manuel Lucena Giraldo in an article published in the National Geographic History magazine.
The simple extract rewarded a specific number. In the “resolute” extract you had to guess the number and position in which it would appear. rather, there was the possibility of playing “un ambo” (two numbers were chosen) or “terno” (three numbers). This last bet was the one that awarded the largest prize (it was called “caer el terno”,as the expression “caer el gordo” is currently used).
The amount of the prize, according to Lucena Giraldo, depended on the amount wagered, “and was calculated by the inverse of the probability of being correct in each type of bet”.
In any case it must have been very large, given that the Treasury used to resort to “closing” the numbers on which the bettors’ interest was concentrated. They were the public’s favorites and with the “closed” bets on them were no longer accepted.
It is possible that Alonso Cordero won one of the jackpots, which is why the treasury offered him a deal: a building plot in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, right where Calle Mayor begins, in exchange for giving up the money. The deal didn’t go badly either, as there Alonso Cordero built a multipurpose building designed in 1842 by the architect Juan José Sánchez Pescador. The site, formerly occupied by a convent, was acquired through a public auction of dubious execution.
The fact is that it ended up in the hands of Alonso Cordero, and the building he built – an elegant construction called “Casa Cordero” – consisted of a ground floor with shops and warehouses, and an inn, called Vizcaína, which he was considered one of the most modern and Europeanized in Spain. There are suspicions, never confirmed, that in reality the prize won by Alonso Cordero and its subsequent exchange for the land hid a dark money laundering plot.
The entrepreneur from Leone was a unique character. Of very humble origins, a frist profession muleteer, he grew up as a merchant transporting goods of all kinds (fish, sausages, minerals, etc.) pulled on horseback, between Galicia and the center of the peninsula.
His social rise gained momentum in 1836, when he was appointed deputy to the Cortes. This new status facilitated the contacts with politicians and businessmen of the time necessary to prosper in business. He was a capitalist partner of the Palentino-leonesa de Minas company and in 1855 he joined Ignacio Gómez de Salazar to connect the coal mining basins by train.
He always attended the sessions of the Cortes wearing the typical costume of the Leonese region in which he was born, the Maragatería. It is said that he had some relationship with Queen Isabella II, whom he once invited to one of his properties (it is unclear whether to his villa in Astorga or to Casa Cordero).
Apparently, Alonso Cordero wanted to paper the entrance patio with gold coins, an idea that did not convince the queen: if they had been placed on their faces, she would have been forced to trample on her face; and on the opposite side the royal shield. “There would be no problem: I would put them next to each other”, they say said that man, the one who almost ruined the Crown playing the lottery, who died in 1865 in a cholera epidemic.
How has the popularity of the Christmas Gordo lottery impacted Spanish culture and traditions?
Title: Unwrapping History: the Evolution of the Christmas Gordo lottery
Interviewer: Welcome to the Time.news, where we explore the fascinating stories behind history and culture. Today, we have a special guest, Dr. Elena Ríos, a historian and expert on the evolution of lotteries in Spain.Dr. Ríos, thank you for joining us.
Dr. Ríos: My pleasure! I’m excited to discuss the intriguing history of the Christmas gordo lottery with you.
interviewer: Let’s dive right in. The odds of winning the Christmas Gordo are famously low. Can you share how those odds have changed over the years?
dr.Ríos: Absolutely! Interestingly, the odds of winning today are still quite slim, but they are significantly better than they were two centuries ago. Back then, it was almost easier to be struck by lightning multiple times than to win a lottery prize. This was due to the limited number of tickets and the high demand.
Interviewer: That’s a dramatic comparison! Now, you mentioned that in the early 1840s, someone actually won a lottery prize, but the Treasury struggled to pay it out. can you elaborate on that?
Dr. Ríos: Yes, this story is particularly fascinating. In the early 1840s, a winner named Santiago Alonso Cordero, who was a former muleteer and a liberal deputy, won a meaningful prize in what was known as the Primitiva lottery.Though, the exact amount of the prize remains undocumented. The Spanish Treasury found itself in a challenging position, as it was unable to pay the winner the actual amount, leading to negotiations instead.
Interviewer: That must have been quite the situation! So, this Primitiva lottery was the precursor to our modern Christmas Gordo, correct?
Dr. Ríos: Exactly! The lottery system has evolved over time. The modern iteration of the Christmas Gordo that we recognize today started being referred to in this very way in 1892. The Primitiva, which operated with five winning numbers from a pool of 90, laid the groundwork for the more complex lottery systems we see today.
interviewer: What was the social and economic impact of these lotteries back in those days?
Dr. Ríos: Lotteries served multiple purposes. They were a source of funding for government projects, particularly during times of financial strain. For manny, they also represented hope and the possibility of upward mobility. Winning a lottery changed lives, as was the case for Cordero, who transitioned from a muleteer to a prosperous businessman and political figure.
interviewer: It’s quite remarkable how lotteries have influenced society! Given their historical significance, how do you see the future of lotteries like the Christmas gordo?
Dr. Ríos: With advances in technology, lotteries will likely continue to evolve. Online ticket purchasing, mobile apps, and increased global participation might change the game significantly. Though, the exciting story and the tradition behind them will always draw peopel in, just as they have for centuries.
Interviewer: Thank you, dr. Ríos,for shedding light on the rich history of the Christmas Gordo and lotteries in Spain. It’s been enlightening to hear how this tradition continues to impact lives and evolve through the ages.
Dr. Ríos: Thank you for having me! I always enjoy discussing history and how it shapes our present.
Interviewer: And thank you to our audience for tuning in. Stay curious and keep exploring the stories that define our world!