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As Spain edges closer to one of the most eagerly awaited dates in the festive calendar, many people buying Christmas Lottery tickets may pause for a moment to look beyond the numbers and notice the artwork printed alongside them.

 

The Christmas Lottery draw takes place every year on December 22, with millions of euros shared out from Madrid’s Teatro Real, where the children of San Ildefonso famously sing the winning numbers aloud. For many, though, El Gordo is about far more than the €400,000 top prize. It is a shared ritual, often played with family, friends or colleagues, and a symbol of hope as Christmas approaches (Spanish Christmas Lottery: what is El Gordo and why is it such a big deal).

That sense of tradition is reflected in the image chosen for the tickets themselves.

 

For more than 60 years, the photograph or artwork printed on Spain’s Christmas Lottery tickets has followed a religious theme. This year’s design, used on all tickets in 2025, features ‘The Nativity of the Virgin Mary’, a striking Baroque painting known for its warm colours and intimate portrayal of family life.

 

The artwork is by Juan García de Miranda, a highly respected painter born in Madrid in 1677, with family roots in Asturias. Despite being born with one hand, he went on to create all of his work using his left, eventually gaining access to the court of King Philip V. He also played a role in restoring Velázquez’s masterpiece Las Meninas, further cementing his place in Spanish art history.

 

The painting, which can be seen at the Museum of Salamanca, was chosen for its symbolism. The image is intended to convey ideas of family, unity and optimism, values closely associated with the Christmas Lottery and the way many people choose to share their numbers with loved ones.

 

As excitement builds ahead of the draw, officials have also reminded players to check that their tickets are genuine, particularly if they have been bought online or through unofficial sellers (How to spot a fake Christmas Lottery ticket before the big draw). Authentic Christmas Lottery tickets have a banknote-like texture, a unique barcode and numbering, and clearly display the wording “Authorised by State Lotteries and Betting” along with the stamp of the issuing lottery administration. They also show the series, number and fraction, as well as the draw date, and feature the official artwork for the Christmas Draw on the front, which is the same across all tickets each year.

 

With just days to go, El Gordo once again brings together art, tradition and a collective sense of anticipation, even for those who know that simply taking part is part of the magic.

 

Image: wikicommons