The word flea market

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A flea market (or swap meet) is a type of street market that provides space for vendors to sell previously owned (second-hand) goods.^[1][2] This type of market is often seasonal. However, in recent years there has been the development of ‘formal’ and ‘casual’ markets^[3] which divides a fixed-style market (formal) with long-term leases and a seasonal-style market with short-term leases. Consistently, there tends to be an emphasis on sustainable consumption whereby items such as used goods, collectibles, antiques and vintage clothing can be purchased.^[1][4]

Flea market vending is distinguished from street vending in that the market alone, and not any other public attraction, brings in buyers. There are a variety of vendors: some part-time who consider their work at flea markets a hobby due to their possession of an alternative job; full-time vendors who dedicate all their time to their stalls and collection of merchandise and rely solely on the profits made at the market.^[3] Vendors require skill in following retro and vintage trends, as well as selecting merchandise which connects with the culture and identity of their customers.^[4]

In the United States, the National Association of Flea Markets was established in 1998, which provides various resources for sellers, suppliers and buyers and also provides a means for suppliers and sellers to communicate and form affiliations.^[1]

Origin of the term[edit]

While the concept has existed for millennia, the origins of the term flea market are disputed. According to one theory, the Fly Market in 18th-century New York City, located at Maiden Lane near the East River in Manhattan, began the association.^[5][6] The land on which the market took place was originally a salt marsh with a brook, and by the early 1800s the Fly Market was the city’s principal market.^[7]

A second theory maintains that flea market is a common English calque from the French marché aux puces, which literally translates to «market with fleas», labelled as such because the items sold were previously owned and worn, likely containing fleas.^[1][8] The first reference to this term appeared in two conflicting stories about a location in Paris in the 1860s which was known as the «marché aux puces».

The traditional and most-publicized story is in the article «What Is a Flea Market?» by Albert LaFarge in the 1998 winter edition of Today’s Flea Market magazine:

There is a general agreement that the term ‘Flea Market’ is a literal translation of the French marché aux puces, an outdoor bazaar in Paris, France, named after those pesky little parasites of the order Siphonaptera (or «wingless bloodsucker») that infested the upholstery of old furniture brought out for sale.

The second story appeared in the book Flea Markets, published in Europe by Chartwell Books, reading in its introduction:

In the time of the Emperor Napoleon III, the imperial architect Haussmann made plans for the broad, straight boulevards with rows of square houses in the center of Paris, along which army divisions could march with much pompous noise. The plans forced many dealers in second-hand goods to flee their old dwellings; the alleys and slums were demolished. These dislodged merchants were, however, allowed to continue selling their wares undisturbed right in the north of Paris, just outside the former fort, in front of the gate Porte de Clignancourt. The first stalls were erected in about 1860. The gathering together of all these exiles from the slums of Paris was soon given the name «marché aux puces«, meaning «flea market», later translation.^[9]

Regional names[edit]

In the United States, an outdoor swap meet is the equivalent of a flea market. However, an indoor swap meet is the equivalent of a bazaar, a permanent, indoor shopping center open during normal retail hours, with fixed booths or storefronts for the vendors.^[10][11][12]

Different English-speaking countries use various names for flea markets. In Australian English, they are also called ‘trash and treasure markets’. In Philippine English, the word is tianggê from the word tianguis via Mexican Spanish coming from Nahuatl. Despite common misconception, it is not derived from Hokkien.^[13] The word supplants the indigenous term talipapâ.^[14] In India, it is known as gurjari or shrukawadi bazaar or even as juna bazaar in Pune.

In the United Kingdom, they are known as car boot sales if the event takes place in a field or car park, as the vendors will sell goods from the boot (or ‘trunk’ in American English) of their car. If the event is held indoors, such as a school or church hall, then it is usually known as either a jumble sale, or a bring and buy sale. In Quebec and France, they are often called Marché aux puces (literally «flea market»), while in French-speaking areas of Belgium, the name brocante or vide-grenier is normally used.

In German, there are many words in use but the most common word is «Flohmarkt», meaning literally «flea market». The same applies to Dutch «vlooienmarkt», Swedish «loppmarknad» and Finnish «kirpputori». In the predominantly Cuban/Hispanic areas of South Florida, they are called [el] pulguero («[the] flea store») from pulga, the Spanish word for fleas. In the Southern part of Andalusia, due to the influence of Gibraltar English, they are known as «piojito», which means «little louse». In Chile they can be called persas or mercados persa («persian market») and ferias libres, if mostly selling fruit and vegetables. In Argentina are most likely called «feria artesanal» (artisan’s or street fair) or «feria americana» (American fair), the latter name is due to have taken the idea from their United States counterpart.

In Moroccan Darija, the term for «flea market» is جوطية juṭiyya, which either derives from French jeter or jetable (throwable),^[15] or is an older term derived from جوقة juqa meaning «gathering of people». An ancient village on the bank of Sebou River by the name جوطة «Juta» may have been a big medieval market.^[16]

Gallery[edit]

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  A vintage travel gear seller at Marché Dauphine, Saint-Ouen, the home of Paris’ flea market

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  A flea market in Germany

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  Flea market (Leiden, end of the 19th century)

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  A large swap meet held in Beaudesert, Queensland, Australia

See also[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Flea market directories at Curlie
• World’s best flea markets directory at fleamapket
• Flea market stories and tips at Flea Market Insiders
• National Flea Market Association (United States)
• let’s keep in touch with Flea Market Paris

Словосочетания

Автоматический перевод

блошиный рынок, барахолка, толкучка

Перевод по словам

flea  — блоха
market  — рынок, базар, торговля, спрос, рыночный, базарный, продавать, сбывать

Примеры

A flea market is an outdoor market with stalls that sell second-hand or old goods cheaply. We also call it a ‘swap meet.’ In some places, a flea market sells very old furniture or antiques. In others, it is an outdoor market that sells old things at a discount. Regardless of how the term’s meaning may vary, in most cases, it is an outdoor market that sells cheap things. Sometimes, the market may have an indoor venue, such as a school gym or warehouse.

Some flea markets charge a fee to enter the premises.

As with most marketplaces that businesses commercialize, many flea markets today also sell baked goods and local farm produce.

In this article, the word ‘marketplace‘ means the same as ‘market‘ in the physical sense of the word.

BusinessDictionary.com has the following definition of the term:

“Outdoor market utilized by vendors to exchange discounted new or used merchandise for money. Flea markets are usually operated in an outdoor facility and may charge shoppers a minimal fee to enter the premises.”

Etymology of flea market

Etymology is the study of the origin of words and expressions and how their meanings have evolved.

There are several explanations for the origin of the term.

French

In Paris in the 1860s, there was a market that people called the ‘Marché aux Puces.’ The French word ‘Puces’ means ‘Fleas.’

The goods that people sold in those markets were supposedly infested with fleas. Hence, the term in English.

New York

In 18th-century New York, an association of vendors started the ‘Fly Market.’ Stalls sold goods at Maiden Lane near the East River in Manhattan.

According to Wikipedia:

“The land on which the market stood was originally a salt marsh with a brook, and by the early 1800s the “Fly Market” was the city’s principal market.”

Flea market – different names

The term ‘flea market’ is not very common in the United Kingdom. Although Britons understand it, they do not use it much. People tend to say ‘car boot sale’ or ‘boot sale.’ A car’s ‘boot’ in the UK is a car’s ‘trunk’ in the United States.

When it is an indoor market, Brits tend to say ‘jumble sale.’

In Australia, a ‘trash and treasure market‘ is the local name for a flea market.

World’s largest flea market?

Once a month, almost one-hundred thousand shoppers come to the flea market in Canton, Texas, USA. The flea market has over 6,000 vendors spread over more than one-hundred acres.

Although shopping in this flea market is supposed to start on the first Monday of each month, it is better to arrive earlier. CNTraveler.com advises arriving on Thursday.

Regarding what type of vehicle to take to the market, CNTraveler.com writes:

“Canton is an excellent place to find beautiful pieces of refurbished furniture – in fact, several boutiques in Dallas will come to Canton a few days early and snag items to resell at triple the price.”

“Ensure that you’ll be able to cart your new-old find home by driving a car with ample space for big-ticket items.”