Why is a flea market called a flea market?

Answer 1

It originated in France...there were the outdoor markets full of used furniture, clothing, household items and such and then there were the fleas (in the stuff) so it eventually was dubbed a "flea market".

Answer 2

it come from the DS game called Animal Crossing: wild world HA......hardly, this is the answer I found many times over: Flea markets, where secondhand goods can be had cheaply, are not just an American phenomenon. In fact, the word "flea market'' has its origins in the name of a famous Parisian street market. The "Marche aux puces Saint-Ouen'' is a colorful market on the northern border of Paris that is a favorite stop for tourists and locals alike. In the winding alleyways that make up the Marche shoppers can hone their haggling skills and perhaps find a rarity among the booths and tables. The Marche aux puces has been in operation for more than a century. Francophones know that the French phrase "marche aux puces'' literally translates to "flea market.'' George Dougherty wrote in his 1922 book In Europe that the Marche aux puces "is called the 'Flea' Market because there are so many second hand articles sold of all kinds that they are believed to gather fleas.'' Whether Doughtery was merely parroting Parisian folklore or relating the actual etymology behind the French name, his use of "flea market'' to describe the street market is the first known example of this term in English. The term didn't begin popping up with any real frequency until the 1950s. At that time, it was usually used to refer to markets of this type in Paris, Spain and elsewhere in Europe. During the 1960s, however, it began to be applied more frequently to such gatherings in the United States.

Answer 3

The origins are disputed. The first name may have been Fly Market connected to New York in the 18th Century. Flea Market may have been a translation of the French Marche aux Puces, a reference to 'fleas' remaining in old furniture brought out for sale

Answer 4

I bought some nice blankets at a garage sale once, and they were really inexpensive. Unfortunately they gave me lice both on my head and elsewhere. I spent a minor fortune on Nix, and ended up burning not just those blankets, but all my blankets, sheets, pillowcases, pillows, and even my mattress, although I would have replaced my mattress in about another year or two, anyway. Teaches me right for trusting people in the parking lot of a fundamentalist church, I guess.

The first use of the term "flea market" dates from about 1920, when an outdoor bazaar near Paris started getting called that. Among the items being sold were livestock. Apparently, some customer was unhappy that his purchase included insects he didn't particularly want, and his complaint about "a market of fleas" struck a nerve among others with similar gripes. Wish I'd had enough influence to get a certain church named the "Disciples of Vermin" or "St Lice Apostolic Church" or soothing funny, catchy, and punitive.

Answer 5

In the United States, flea markets are either called flea markets or swap meets. They could also be called a bizaar, a boot sale (UK), a farmer's market (although farmer's markets in the states are mostly limited to home-grown produce, honey, plants and that sort of item), and many churches and charities have such fundraising events as Spring Festivals, carnivals and the like. They make money by renting the spaces to vendors and sometimes asking for a percentage of the vendor sales as well. Flea markets, no matter what they might be called, come in different sizes, from small (five or six vendors) to very large (professionally-operated markets with 2,000+ vendors each weekend). Some are outdoor markets and some are located indoors, usually those in the colder areas of the country so they can be open all year, even when it snows. Selling at flea markets is an easy and very affordable way to start your own small business, one that can supplement your current income or completely replace it altogether if you'd like.

Answer 6

A flea relies on a host (animal or human) to survive. A flea can also jump or travel from animal to animal, human to human, object (like yard grass) to animal or human.

At a flea market 'a host' is the person who offers the space for vendors. The metaphor 'flea market' refers to how merchandise 'jumps or travels' from one former owner or owners to another new owner.

Answer 7

you are rich and many people are not so they can shop from their but flea markets actually have good quality stuff and many rich people actually go there!!

flea markets you rock!