‘Tis the season for some festive fun here at Bank Underground with the Annual Bank Underground Christmas Quiz! Get ready to test your knowledge on all things economics, finance, and central banking as we dive into some holiday-themed questions. Let’s spread some cheer and see how well you fare in this quiz!
1) In which of Jane Austen’s novels were the Miss Steeles ‘prevailed on to stay nearly two months at the park, and to assist in the due celebration of that festival which requires a more than ordinary share of private balls and large dinner parties to proclaim its importance’?
– Pride and Prejudice
– Northanger Abbey
– Sense and Sensibility. Correct!
Jane Austen’s novel Sense and Sensibility features this festive reference in Chapter XXIV, shedding light on social customs of the time.
2) St Nicholas’s Day is celebrated on 6 December. What was he said to have dropped into the house of a poor family under the cover of night?
– Shredded banknotes
– Bags of gold. Correct!
St Nicholas’s secret gift-giving inspired Santa Claus, who was said to have provided bags of gold as dowries for a poor family’s daughters.
3) A gold medal at the 1908 London Olympics contained 100% gold. What amount of gold is found in medals awarded at the 2024 Paris Olympics?
– 6 grams. Correct!
Modern gold medals at the Olympics are primarily made of silver with a thin layer of gold plating, unlike earlier Olympics where pure gold medals were awarded.
4) During 2024, Governor Andrew Bailey had an unusual encounter with which animal?
– Rudolf the red deer
– Hamish the polar bear. Correct!
Governor Bailey met Hamish at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park during an event hosted by the Doncaster Chamber of Commerce, showcasing interactions between policymakers and local businesses.
5) What, by law, must be provided to HM Treasury by Christmas Day 2024?
– The FPC’s response to HM Treasury’s remit and recommendations letter
– A jar of Bank of England honey, made by the Bank’s bees
– The first annual report of the PRA Cost Benefit Analysis Panel. Correct!
The PRA Cost Benefit Analysis Panel’s annual report must be submitted to HM Treasury under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023.
6) Christmas Day has always been a holiday for bank staff. Which year offered the least leave entitlements?
– 1834. Correct!
In 1834, Bank staff were only entitled to 4 days off, including Christmas Day, contrasting with more generous leave entitlements in earlier years.
7) Which of these gifts has Governor Andrew Bailey received during his term of office?
– Sailing ship. Correct!
Governor Bailey received a model sailing ship in a case in 2021, which are publicly declared and either retained in the Bank’s collection or donated.
8) Which country has featured a snowflake design on one of its banknotes?
– Norway. Correct!
The 200-krone note in Norway featured a snowflake design and was considered legal tender until May 2018.
9) Which mythical creature occasionally appears on Roman coins, though more commonly associated with ancient Greek coinage?
– A Pegasus. Correct!
While Pegasus is more famously associated with Greek coins, it occasionally appears on Roman coins in mythological or artistic contexts.
Challenge yourself with these festive questions and spread some holiday spirit with your newfound knowledge! Feel free to email us at bankunderground@bankofengland.co.uk with your thoughts or leave a comment below. Let’s keep the festive cheer going!
