La Grossa de Cap d’Any is Catalunya’s New Year’s answer to
the Spanish national Christmas lottery El Gordo. It was dreamed up last year by the Generalitat,
Catalunya’s regional government, as one of many measures to try and fix the
lousy budget Catalunya receives from Spain.
Catalunya generates 20% of Spain’s economic activity, it
contributes 25% of Spain’s tax revenue, and next year it will get back 9% of
Spain’s spending (this year it was 11%).
The Generalitat tried to impose a 1-euro per prescription co-pay within its
national health care coverage, as well as a tax on bank deposits, and both were
struck down by the Spanish government (always trying to find a way to help the
Catalans). So it decided to do a
lottery, which turned out to be more popular than taxes anyway.
La Grossa is a cap
gross, one of the big heads that, together with giants, are a tradition in
the local festivals.
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| Artur Mas, President of the Generalitat with La Grossa |
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| La Grossa does a walkabout |
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| La Grossa by the beach |
This year La Grossa
was joined by a very special dignitary.
Earlier in the year, Queen Elizabeth II came over to join her
in helping to publicize the lottery.
They make a fine pair, don’t you think?
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| Her Highness and La Grossa |
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| Her Highness calls La Grossa Mrs. Grossa La Grossa never utters a word (and never wears a hat) |
But the real question is, will I win this year? Last year I bought four tickets for me and
two as gifts and none of them won anything.
This year I’ve bought tickets again.
It’s good to have hope, and the money goes to
a good cause – social programs in Catalunya -- where I live. The lottery will be held tomorrow. Wish me luck!
All images were taken from internet media sources
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