The Yule Lads Trivia Quiz

Answer: 13

The Yule Lads have been part of Icelandic folklore for hundreds of years. They are sometimes also known as Yuletide-Lads or Yulemen and their Icelandic name is Jolasveinarnir. In earlier times the number and nature of the Yule Lads often differed from region to region and the stories surrounding the Yule Lads depicted them as anything from mischievous pranksters to homicidal monsters.

However, the modern incarnations of the Yule Lads, including their canonical names and personalities, can be traced back to the poem 'Jolasveinarnir' which was featured in a collection of Christmas poems by Icelandic poet Johannes Ur Kotlum in 1932.

Answer: A rotting potato

Icelandic children leave their shoes out on their window sills on each of the thirteen nights before Christmas Eve in the hope that whichever Yule Lad will be visiting their house that night will fill them with presents rather than rotting potatoes. The modern day versions of the Yule Lads are far more benevolent than many of their earlier incarnations who were often depicted as violent thugs and child-eating monsters.

However, although the Yule Lads are now mostly harmless, they are still said to engage in a little light mischief such as stealing food or bothering livestock.

Answer: Gryla

Gryla is said to be able to detect naughty children at any time of year but it is at Christmas she descends from her cave home in the Dimmuborgir lava fields to hunt for disobedient children to make into her favourite stew. Gryla only became associated with Christmas tradition in the 17th century when she was first named as the mother of the Yule Lads.

Answer: Yule Cat

It is suggested that the story of the Yule Cat was spread by farmers who wanted to encourage their workers to finish their work on the autumn wool yields before Christmas. Those who worked hard would be rewarded with new clothes before Christmas and those that did not would be at risk of being eaten by the Yule Cat. What with Gryla and the Yule Cat on the prowl at Christmas it is surprising that Icelandic children get any sleep in December at all!

Answer: Sheep

Stekkjarstaur, also known as Sheep-Cote Clod in English, can usually be found tormenting sheep. However, his sheep-chasing activities are somewhat limited by his peg-legs. Livestock are equally unlikely to be happy to see the next Yule Lad Giljagaur or 'Gully Gawk' who arrives on 13th December and lurks around the cowsheds attempting to steal milk.

Answer: Pan-Scraper

The Yule Lad who arrives on 14th December is known to eat the crust from the inside of pans but he is named Stubby due to his short stature. Spoon-Licker, Pot-Scraper and Bowl-Licker appear on 15th, 16th and 17th December respectively and do exactly what their names suggest.

Answer: Door-Slammer

As his name would suggest, Door-Slammer has a particular fondness for noisily slamming doors, especially in the middle of the night. He is usually followed on 19th December by Skyr-Gobbler, a Yule Lad with an appetite for skyr, a traditional Icelandic dairy product.

Answer: Sausages

This Yule Lad's name translates to Sausage-Swiper and he is said to steal strings of sausages from the rafters of the houses he visits. He is followed on 21st December by the criminally-minded Window-Peeper who is always on the look out for things to steal.

Answer: Leaf Bread

Doorway-Sniffer is particularly interested in the traditional Icelandic bread laufabrauth, which translates to Leaf Bread. It is not really bread, but a thin flat cake decorated with snowflake-like patterns (from which it gets its alternative name of Snowflake Bread).

Doorway-Sniffer is followed on 23rd December by Meat-Hook, who, as his name would suggest, uses a hook to steal meat.

Answer: Candles

Candle-Stealer follows children in order to steal and eat their candles. This behaviour may seem less eccentric when you consider that, at the time this story was originally concocted, candles were usually made of tallow which was edible.