Every Day Is Special: August 24

Posted on August 24, 2016

Today is not about celebrating a weapon, but rather about celebrating a tool that can be used in many ways – a tool that is just about as ancient as humanity itself!

Early humans made knives out of flint, rock, bone, and obsidian. Eventually people made metal knives. Today, most knives are made of metal – iron / steel, titanium, bronze and copper – but some are made out of ceramic. Many knives are fixed-blade, but there are also many “pocket knives,” folding knives, and Swiss Army knives.

Let's look at some of the people who use lives in their jobs:

chefs and cooks
caterers and servers
butchers
fishermen (apparently women who harvest fish are proud to be called fishermen)
rescue workers and EMTs
woodworkers / carvers / whittlers and carpenters
soldiers
crafters, and artisans
barbers and hair stylists
makeup artists
sculptors and ice carvers
paper cutting artists and other artists
flooring installers
electricians, plumbers, and repairers
mechanics
farmers, gardeners, and landscape artists
divers
clerks, secretaries, and other business people (letter openers are also called paper knives)
shipping and warehouse workers
knife throwers (don't try that at home!)

Knives are also useful for everyday life, such as cooking and eating, and for some recreational activities, such as camping and fishing.

And some religions involve the use or wearing of traditional knives. Most famous is the Sikh religion; Sikhs must carry a traditional knife called a kirpan at all times. “At all times” apparently does not include while flying on a plane – from what I have read, Sikhs are required to put their kirpans in their checked luggage just like all other fliers who might travel with pocket knives, chef knives, or other blades.

I always love to see amazing art, so I looked up “art made with a knife.” I found some great ice sculptures, paper art pieces, and wooden carvings...