Yard Sales! Moving Sales! Garage Sales! Rummage Sales! And the oddly named, White Elephant Sale!
These names, they confused me. So, I decided to do a little research. I went to the thesaurus and typed in “yard sale.” And the names above came up. Along with Attic sale and basement sale. What’s the difference between these sales?
Well, I’ve never bought a yard at a yard sale. So, I assumed you probably couldn’t buy a white elephant at a white elephant sale either. How does one sale differ from the other? Where did the names originate? Who uses what?
In the southeast, yard sale is the popular term. And it’s when someone sells things in their yard. But, I’ve also been to so called yard sales that had items in the garage. So, was I technically attending a garage sale?
Apparently, “garage sale” is more of a northern term. They were originally called garage sales because the sale took place in the garage, out of the weather. Or if it was dry out, items were in the driveway near the garage.
Tag sales are an east coast thing, according to my research. But, I’ve lived on the east coast for many years and have never heard that term. So, you can’t prove it by me.
Rummage sale has an old fashioned ring to it to me. The name came from having to “rummage” through all of the items to find the things you wanted. I think of big fundraising sales put on by churches and the like. Doesn’t it make you think of folks rummaging through the donated goods and grabbing a pie from the bake sale on the way out?
As for the white elephant sale, I am not totally convinced that anyone actually uses that term. I don’t care what the thesaurus says. If anyone has been to one of these, I’d love to hear about it!
The things these sales have in common is that they’re a way for a person, family or group to sell the things they no longer need and can make a little extra money. And they’re a way for shoppers to find the things they need or want without spending nearly as much as they would if they were to shop retail.
No matter what your region chooses to call them, they can equal more money in everyone’s pocket.
We’d like to hear what you call them in your neck of the woods!
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