13 Comments so far

1.    Mr Webb on October 5, 2008 10:07 pm

   Er I would suggest something to do with farming potatoes in the old days? The students perhaps had holidays to farm potatoes during the holidays hence the tattie holidays.
   Mr Webb
   Tamaki Intermediate School, New Zealand

2.    Nicole and Ayden (Coulhill Primary 4) on October 9, 2008 2:58 am

   The october holidays is called the tattie
   holidays because you pick tatties in the
   feilds. You get up realy early and go to
   the feilds on the back of the bogey.If you
   were small the farmer would give you a leg
   up. You stamp the tatties into the ground and kick mud over them to hide the tatties. You would be there for ages until all the tatties were picked. It was tiring and back breaking work although Ayden loves it!

3.    Holly and Kai (Coulhill Primary 4) on October 9, 2008 3:20 am

   In the October holidays pepole go picking tatties we were writeing about it.We were reading out slips in assembly.It was allote of fun because James was the farmer and people were acting. Nicole was very brave to go up in front of everyones mum and dad. Ayden loved Tattie picking.

4.    Rebecca and Logan(Coulhill Primary 4) on October 9, 2008 3:35 am

   In the October holidays you would pick tatties. We found out that you got paid at the end of the day. We also found out that you had to be up early sometimes 6 or 7 in the morning!

5.    Phoebe and Jake(Coulhill Primary 4) on October 10, 2008 1:05 am

   In the tattie holidays we found out that people pick tatties. There were no toilets in the field. They didn’t go by bus or car they went in the bogey. You had a section to start at and you had to pick all of the tatties. Sometimes you would kick dirt over the tatties or stamp them in the ground.

6.    Jenny and James(Coulhill Primary 4) on October 10, 2008 1:09 am

   You would get a really sore back when you were bending over all day. You would really need a drink and something to eat at half yoking. When you were finished picking the tatties you would empty them into a sack or the trailer. You would get paid. It would take you all day to clean the mud out from under your nails.

7.    Aryk and Morven(Coulhill Primary 4) on October 10, 2008 1:48 am

   In the tattie holidays you would pick the big tatties and stamp the smaller tatties in the ground. At half yoking you would get a drink and if you were lucky you would get a fresh scone.

8.    Mr Webb on October 11, 2008 8:04 pm

   So I take it that tatties are flowers and it has nothing to do with potatoes at all! Thanks for explaining it Coulhill Primary.
   Mr Webb
   Tamaki Intermediate, New Zealand.

9.    Miss Lavakula on October 14, 2008 3:19 pm

   Wow, you are on holidays! We have just finished ours here in New Zealand. Tatter holidays sounds really interesting. Could it be the harvest season for potatoes?

10.    zack benzie on October 22, 2008 8:39 am

    In the tattie holidays they shut down the schools so kids and adults could all harvest the tatties before it was too late.

11.    marybankblog on October 22, 2008 12:23 pm

    Well done (and thanks!) to everyone who contributed towards this discussion. Yes, tatties are indeed potatoes and this holiday was traditionally used to allow children/families to earn money by helping with the harvesting of potatoes for local farmers.
    Now…anyone know why we call the holiday in December, Christmas?!!!!

12.    Grace Stewart-Skinner on November 7, 2008 11:51 am

    Now Mr.Q,the reason why the Hogmanay holiday is called Christmas, is because it is my BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!……………………………………………………………
    Obviously ;-P

13.    Grace Stewart-Skinner on November 7, 2008 11:52 am

    Now Mr.Q,the reason why the Hogmanay holiday is called Christmas, is because it is my BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!……………………………………………………………
    Obviously!