The top prize in Spain’s ‘El Gordo’ Christmas lottery goes to tickets with the number 88008

MADRID (AP) — Lucky holders of 20-euro tickets with the number 88008 are celebrating after winning 400,000 euros ($440,000) each in the top prize of Spain’s huge Christmas lottery. People across the country tuned into the television, radio and internet from early morning as children from Madrid’s San Ildefonso school begin singing out the prize-winning numbers in the lottery is known as “EL Gordo” (the fat one) The immensely popular lottery will distribute a total of 2.6 billion euros in prizes this year, much of it in small winnings. Street and bar celebrations normally break out, with winners uncorking bottles of sparkling wine and singing and dancing.