Lottery News: Good luck touched the small municipality of Hondón de las Nieves, in the Alicante, region. Hondon Nieves is a quiet town, so it is big news when a local resident wins 25,000 euros on the Spanish Lottery.
The lottery ticket was sold in the local grocery store in the main Nieves Plaza. The shop owner says “I was very happy, because it is some good news for a change.” he said. The village grapevine was very active!
The shop has a privileged location in the Plaza de la Villa, in front of the Town Hall, and it is easy to see that Nieves and other local villages ooze the “quiet life of a small town where we all know each other and live well“. Bliss for the Spanish and its many foreign settlers.
After the news of the lottery win, everything soon returns to normal in Hondón de las Nieves, located inland of the Alicante province, in the Medio Vinalopó region. There are about 2,600 inhabitants, of which 58 percent are foreigners. It is a place of habit and practically everyone maintains the same routines… coffee mornings and market days.
“Here in the square there are four bars where everyone meets,” says Carmencín, who points out that “if anything happens, good or bad, we all find out” and maintains that “children play in the streets without concern and we can go out into the country for a walk. “
“People live very well here,” the mayor of the municipality, Carmen Sellés (PP), who obtained the rod of command in the last elections. In his charge lives a “population with an average advanced age” that, historically, was engaged in “eminently agricultural” work. such as grapes, almonds and olives are the main produce.
“Now the situation is more complicated but some young farmers are taking up the tradition,” he points out and explains that there are also owners who “rent their land to companies that grow onions or broccoli” but most of the workers “move away to Alicante, Elche or Aspe “.
The main town areas are currently under renovation, with aid from the Alicante Provincial Council, mainly, or “from any subsidy that we can take advantage of”, said Sellés.
“The health centre is going to be improved, the works of a new school are going to begin” and, even, a new headquarters of the City Council is being enabled. They are also implementing sports facilities and are negotiating to build a municipal warehouse.
“The town has everything you need, it is 35 minutes from the airport and the people are cordial and welcoming, anyone feels welcome,” María Elena Jones, councilor for Foreign Residents.
The tranquillity, the green space of the Sierra de Crevillente and the climate are the main claims for citizens who choose Hondón de las Nieves as their residence.
Many new buyers to the area land in the La Montañosa urbanization, where 95% of the residents are international. “Here there are British, Dutch, Belgian, French and German who mostly arrive shortly before their retirement,” he specifies.
“Many cultural activities are offered, integration is very good and the few families that come with children say that adaptation to school in Spanish is very easy,” he says.
Hondón de las Nieves split from Aspe in 1839 and was established as an independent entity in 1926. This circumstance contributes one of the singularities of the municipality, since it is one of the few in Spain that shares its patron with another. “The image of the Virgen de las Nieves is kept in Hondón,” María Teresa Senabre, Councillor for Culture, explained “and every two years, the carving is moved to Aspe on foot, after travelling the nine kilometres that separate them, where stays about 20 days.“
The COVID restrictions forced the suspension of the festivities last year and probably will not allow them to be held this year, despite the fact that they take place in August. Fingers crossed that fiestas are back in 2021 as they form an integral part of the community spirit and entertainment.
Article by Rafa Burgos c2021 EFE
