Most And Least Popular Yule Lads Polled

A new poll is out on who are the most and least popular Yule Lads in Iceland, and the results show the last to arrive is the clear winner.

The poll, conducted by Market and Media Research (MMR), asked Icelanders who their favourite of the 13 Yule Lads were. The most popular by far was Kertasníkir (Candle-Beggar), who arrives on December 24, with 34.9% of respondents naming him as their favourite. As the last Yule Lad to visit Icelandic homes, and the herald of Christmas Eve, his popularity is fairly explanatory.

The next most popular was Stúfur (Stubby), with 23.9% calling him their favourite, followed by Hurðaskellir (Door-Slammer), with 11%.

No other Yule Lad rose above the 10% mark, but three proved to be decidedly unpopular, polling at less than 1% each: Þvörusleikir (Spoon-Licker, who arrives today), Pottasleikir (Pot-Licker) and Askasleikir (Bowl-Licker). As MMR points out, what these three all have in common is they are known for eating leftover food in household items.

Most interesting amongst the data points is the gender divide. While pretty much every Yule Lad proved more popular with men than with women, Kertasníkir was wildly popular with women. 51% of women chose him as their favourite, compared to 21% of men.