Are disappearing trades just a loss of work? Through Çorum's traditional crafts, explore the ambiguous loss and identity gap that master craftspeople face.
There was a time when, walking through the bazaar, you could tell which shop belonged to the coppersmith just from the sound of the hammer. Today it is becoming harder and harder to hear that sound in the same street. Disappearing trades are usually discussed as the natural result of economic transformation: factory production replaced handwork, habits changed, young people turned to other jobs. But this transformation also has an unseen side: a silent grief experienced by the master who devoted a lifetime to a craft, by that master's family, and by the memory of a city. A recent field study of traditional occupations in Çorum reports that many trades passed down through the master–apprentice relationship have been almost forgotten. In this article I will look at this loss through its figures and its social and psychological dimensions.
Disappearing Trades: What Does the Data From Çorum Say?
A 2024 master's thesis examining traditional occupations in Çorum (Gözel, Erzurum Technical University) reports that many trades passed down through the master–apprentice chain have been "almost forgotten" as a result of sociocultural change. News reports also reflect that only a few masters remain in crafts such as coppersmithing. On the other hand, it is reported that women have shown interest in coppersmithing courses supported by İŞKUR (the Turkish Employment Agency); so the picture is not simply one of endings.
Leblebi (roasted chickpea) making, meanwhile, is an example of a tradition that is still alive in Çorum but has a long chain of mastery. According to the Çorum Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, leblebi production has a history of around 300 years; masters serve an apprenticeship of at least 8–10 years, and production involves three separate roasting rounds and long resting periods. Çorum leblebi received geographical indication registration in 2002. According to a 2018 news report, there were around 200 leblebi businesses in the province, counting manufacturing and retail together.
The limits of this data should be stated clearly: no official figure could be found showing how many traditional trades have disappeared in Çorum, how many masters remain, or whether there is a shortage of apprentices in the leblebi sector. What we have are qualitative field observations and news reports. The interpretations below therefore point to a trend; they are not a precise measurement.
Still, this much can be said: the survival of a craft that requires an apprenticeship as long as 8–10 years depends on young people being willing to devote a significant part of their lives to the work. When one link in this chain breaks, the knowledge itself can be lost.
A Sociological Reading: Why Are Crafts Disappearing?
There is no single reason behind the decline of traditional occupations. Possible factors can be listed as follows:
- Industrialisation and mass production: A handmade copper pot or a hand-woven textile struggles to compete with the price of factory goods.
- Changing consumer habits: Copper has been replaced by other materials in kitchens; ready-made products are preferred over hand-woven ones.
- Apprenticeship losing its appeal: Working for many years on low earnings is less attractive to today's young generation. Families, too, may see it as more secure for their children to study and get an office job.
- Migration and urbanisation: Young people moving to other cities for education and work makes it harder for a craft to be passed on within the family.
- Perceptions of social status: Some handcrafts may be seen in society as "old-fashioned" or low-status work, which further reduces young people's interest.
These factors apply to many cities in Turkey; they are not specific to Çorum. However, in cities like Çorum, which have both a growing industry and a strong handcraft heritage, this transformation becomes more visible. In the same city, modern factories expand on one side while some shops in the old bazaar pull down their shutters on the other.
Academic studies of Çorum's handcrafts document areas such as Kargı cloth weaving, Mecitözü kilims and block-printed textiles, as well as coppersmithing. The existence of these studies matters; because even if a craft withdraws from daily life, recording its knowledge lays the groundwork for reviving it in the future. Documentation can also be thought of as a form of collective mourning: remembering, naming and not forgetting what has been lost.
On the other hand, examples such as women's interest in coppersmithing courses show that a craft can be reborn in new hands and with new meanings. A trade once carried out mainly by men becoming an area of production, socialising and income for women reminds us that tradition is not something frozen, but something that can change.
Disappearing Trades and Ambiguous Loss: A Psychological Reading
When we think of grief, we usually think of the death of a loved one. Yet people also grieve when they lose a job, a role or a way of life. What psychology calls ambiguous loss arises when a loss has no clear beginning or end, and when society does not recognise it as a loss. Disappearing trades are exactly this kind of loss: no one opens a house of mourning for them, no one offers condolences; but something has been taken away from within the master.
This loss has several layers:
Loss of identity: For a person who has worked at a craft for many years, the occupation is not "what they do" but "who they are". Someone known in the bazaar simply as "the coppersmith" may not know how to define themselves once their shop closes. This is very similar to the identity gap I discussed in my article on retirement syndrome.
Loss of meaning: Producing something with your own hands gives a person a concrete sense of achievement and meaning. When this source of meaning disappears, feelings of emptiness, lack of motivation and worthlessness may emerge.
The pain of not being able to pass it on: One of the pains masters often voice is not finding anyone to teach what they know. The thought "This trade will end with me" carries, beyond personal loss, the weight of witnessing the end of a heritage.
Unrecognised grief: When society does not take this loss seriously, a person finds it hard to share their feelings. Remarks such as "Everyone changes jobs, what's the big deal?" make the grief invisible and isolate the person.
Let us say a master who has spent forty years at a weaving loom is forced to sell it. His children tell him, "Now you can finally rest, Dad"; they mean well. But in the first weeks at home, the master realises he does not know what to do with his hands and cannot find a reason to get up in the morning. This picture is not an illness but an expression of grief; however, if it lasts a long time and deepens, it can turn into a depressive state.
This grief also has a physical dimension. Hands that have repeated the same movements for years, a shop opened at the same hour, mornings spent walking the same route — these make up a person's daily rhythm. When this rhythm is disrupted, sleep patterns may change, restlessness may increase, and the person may feel tense without fully knowing why. Understanding these reactions makes it easier to give a compassionate answer to the question "What is happening to me?"
Age is also an important factor when it comes to disappearing trades. Someone who leaves their trade at a young age may have more options for turning to a new field. For a master who closes their workshop in their sixties, however, starting again is much harder; the loss may pile up on top of other losses that come with ageing, such as health problems or children moving to other cities.
When a trade disappears, it is not only a job that is left behind, but quietly, a whole life accumulated within that work.
The Impact on Families and the Community
Disappearing trades affect not only the master but also their family. In crafts run as family businesses, a trade that was expected to pass from father to son or from mother to daughter not being continued can create silent tension between generations. A young person who says "I don't want to do my father's job" may feel guilty; the parent, in turn, may perceive this decision as a personal rejection.
Both sides of this tension are understandable. The young person has the right to forge their own path; the parent wants the meaning of the work to which they gave their life to continue. It is possible to build a bridge between these two needs: even if the young person does not continue the trade, they can support documenting the master's knowledge, recording their story, or learning the craft as a hobby.
A similar loss exists at the level of the community. The sounds and smells of the bazaar and the conversations of masters in front of their shops are part of a city's memory. The fading of this memory can lead, especially for older generations, to the feeling "My old city has gone" — a kind of collective grief. Living traditions such as leblebi making, by contrast, support the city's continuity both economically and in terms of identity.
Suggestions for Coping With Loss and Keeping Tradition Alive
Some practical suggestions for masters, their families and communities:
- Name the loss. Acknowledging that leaving a trade can bring grief makes the feelings understandable. The answer to the question "Is it normal for me to be this upset?" is usually yes.
- Record the knowledge. Photographing the master's techniques, stories and tools, or capturing them on audio or video, both preserves the knowledge and makes the master feel valued.
- Look for new roles. Workshops, introduction days at schools, teaching on courses or taking part in museum events can be new areas in which the master can pass on their knowledge.
- Keep your hands busy. Even if commercial production ends, continuing the craft at home or in a small workshop helps a person preserve their rhythm and sense of meaning.
- Invite young people without pressure. Instead of pressuring children or grandchildren to continue the trade, creating opportunities for them to get to know the craft builds a healthier bond.
- Protect social ties. When a trade ends, neighbourly relationships in the bazaar can also break off. Meeting former colleagues regularly helps prevent isolation.
- Institutions can help. Public education centres, municipalities and professional bodies can contribute both to keeping the tradition alive and to masters' social participation by bringing masters and courses together.
I discussed what is normal in the grieving process and what calls for support in more detail in my article on the grief process.
When Should You Seek Professional Support?
Feeling sadness, longing and emptiness after losing an occupation is normal. However, the following situations suggest that talking to a professional may be helpful:
- if there has been an intense lack of motivation, inability to enjoy things and hopelessness for weeks after leaving the trade,
- if sleep and appetite patterns have been clearly disrupted,
- if the person is withdrawing from social relationships and does not want to leave the house,
- if thoughts such as "I'm no use any more" or "I'm a burden" have become frequent,
- if behavioural changes such as turning to alcohol or other substances, or outbursts of anger, are observed,
- if thoughts have emerged that life is meaningless, or of dying or harming oneself.
If you have thoughts of harming yourself, do not stay alone; talk to someone close to you, and in an emergency call 112 (emergency services).
How Are Occupational Loss and Grief Addressed in Therapy?
In therapy, the loss of an occupation is taken as seriously as any other loss. The first step is for the person to name the loss they have experienced and to be able to express their feelings without being judged. The person's relationship with their trade, what meaning it gave them and what gaps have now opened up in their life are explored together.
In the cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approach, thoughts such as "I'll never be of any use again" or "The meaning of my life is over" are identified and evaluated alongside the evidence. Through behavioural activation, activities that will bring meaning and rhythm back into the person's day are planned step by step. These activities often include the person using their craft skills in new ways.
If the low mood following the loss has deepened, psychological support in the area of depression and mood may be helpful; where necessary, an assessment by a psychiatrist is also recommended. Family sessions can make room for talking about expectations between generations and feelings of guilt.
Another focus of therapy is helping the person place the loss within their own life story. Qualities gained during the years of mastery — patience, attentiveness and respect for hard work — do not disappear with the trade; they can be used in other areas of the person's life. Recognising this does not erase the pain of the loss, but it helps the person define themselves not only by what they have lost but also by what they carry with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does losing an occupation really cause grief?
Yes. People grieve not only when they lose loved ones but also when they lose their roles, identities and ways of life. Because society does not always recognise this kind of loss, the grief can be experienced more quietly and in greater isolation.
Which traditional trades are still alive in Çorum?
Leblebi making is a strong tradition still alive in Çorum; it received geographical indication registration in 2002. In crafts such as coppersmithing, only a few masters are reported to remain, although new interest is emerging through courses.
I don't want to continue my father's trade — should I feel guilty?
Choosing your own path is not a betrayal. Feeling guilty shows the respect you have for your family and their work. Even if you do not continue the trade, recording your parent's knowledge or listening to their story can be a meaningful way of preserving that bond.
How can I support a retired master craftsperson?
Showing that you value their knowledge and experience is the most important step. It helps to create opportunities that encourage them to tell their story, teach or use their hands, to help them maintain their social ties, and to suggest they seek support if you notice a prolonged low mood.
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Eda Erkan Alapala
Klinik Psikolog. İstanbul Kent Üniversitesi Klinik Psikoloji Tezli Yüksek Lisans mezunu; bilişsel davranışçı terapi, çocuk merkezli oyun terapisi ve çocuk-ergen psikoterapisi alanlarında eğitimlerini tamamlamıştır.
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