Increasing donation and sacrifice prices reduced the workload of knife sharpeners compared to last year

The high prices of sacrificial animals in Yozgat, the increase in donations to foreign countries, and the insufficient purchasing power of the citizens have reduced the workload of knife sharpeners before the upcoming Eid al-Adha. As the Eid al-Adha approaches, there is an increase in activity among knife sharpeners and sellers, with some citizens preferring to buy new knives to avoid causing pain to the sacrificial animal, while others choose to sharpen their existing knives. However, knife sharpeners in Yozgat, who have completed their preparations, are not having the business they desired this year. Compared to last year, the high prices of sacrificial animals and the increase in donation rates in Yozgat have also affected the workload of knife sharpeners. The craftsmen stated that this year the workload has decreased by half compared to last year. Abdullah Nurdoğdu, who continues his grandfather’s profession in Tol Çarşı, said they have started preparations for Eid al-Adha. Nurdoğdu, who stated that there has been a decrease in both knife sales and sharpening compared to last year, said, ‘The purchasing power of the citizens is low, those who do not buy sacrificial animals do not think of buying knives. Citizens have turned to donations a lot this year, so there is not as much intensity as last year. Our last 3 days will be busy.’ Warning citizens to have their knives sharpened by competent people, Nurdoğdu said, ‘The streets are filled with knife sharpeners, none of them are doing their own job, everyone has a different job and in addition, they are sharpening knives. Therefore, they should have the job done by competent people. Also, it is very important for the knife to be sharp to avoid causing trouble to the sacrificial animal. We sharpen knives starting from 30 liras, and the price of daggers starts from 50 liras and varies according to their size.’ Mehmet Güler, a citizen, emphasized that it is not right to have knives sharpened by unskilled individuals on the streets, saying, ‘To avoid causing trouble to the sacrificial animal, we give the knife sharpening job to skilled craftsmen. I have been coming here for years, and I recommend this place to everyone.’