How the ‘WC’ Sign Reflects Cultural Differences Around the World

Have you ever seen the letters “WC” outside a public bathroom and wondered what they mean? You’re not alone! Many people around the world are curious about the “WC,” which refers to a room with a toilet and a sink.

While we can explain what “WC” stands for, it might not make much more sense than other terms like restroom, bathroom, or loo.

In 2020, a couple named Shelby and Dylan made a TikTok video showing a funny difference between how some Americans and Canadians refer to bathrooms. In the video, Dylan walks by a sign that says “washroom” and asks, “What in the world is a washroom?” He humorously wonders what people are washing in there, adding, “The only thing I wash in there is my hands.” Off-camera, Shelby chimes in, asking, “Do you rest in a restroom?”

It’s interesting to see how different cultures use different terms for the same place!

“That’s a good point. None of these terms make much sense,” Dylan says in the video.

Many people joined the conversation online, sharing their thoughts about what they call this important room.

One user commented, “It’s called a bathroom, restroom, washroom, and toilet.”

Another follower shared a funny story from Disneyland, saying they “asked for the washroom” and ended up being sent to the laundromat instead!

A third user joked, “Wait until he finds out about water closets.”

**Water Closet**
According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, a “water closet” is a term used to describe “a room with a toilet” or “a toilet bowl and its accessories.”

Long ago, when people talked about using the bathroom, it often meant taking a bath. The term “restroom” suggested a place to rest or get ready by using the sink and mirror.

Lastly, if you needed to go potty, you would use the toilet in the water closet. Depending on where you are in the world, this room is called many different names, including loo, restroom, bathroom, washroom, lavatory, or WC.

Credit: Shutterstock

In modern times, you will often see signs that say “WC” in public places like airports, restaurants, or hotels. This is just another way to say “restroom” or “bathroom,” but it is usually seen as a more formal or international sign for places that welcome travelers from different countries.

**History of the WC**
Before the 19th century in America, having an indoor toilet was a luxury only for wealthy people. Most people used outhouses or outdoor toilets. While many homes had “bathrooms” for taking baths, these rooms usually didn’t have toilets. The installation of indoor plumbing started to become common in the late 1800s, leading to the creation of the water closet by 1890. These early water closets had toilets that were separate from bathing areas.

It wasn’t until the early 20th century that bathrooms began to combine both bathing areas and toilets into one room. This design helped save space and made plumbing simpler, but it also reduced privacy, especially when multiple people were using the bathroom.

Over time, the term “water closet” changed to refer to a small, private room within a larger bathroom that was used only for the toilet. These water closets often have a small sink for handwashing, making them convenient and self-contained.

Credit: Shutterstock

To understand the term “water closet,” many people shared their thoughts on Reddit in a post titled, “Why is a public WC called bathroom if there is [no] bath?”

In response, one Reddit user pointed out, “Americans might ask: ‘Why is it called a WC (water closet) if it isn’t even a closet?” This user explained that in the U.S., “bathroom” or “restroom” is the common way to refer to a “room with a toilet.” Other countries use different terms, like “WC,” “lavatory,” or “loo.”

Another user mentioned that in Russian, the term translates to “a room without windows,” even if there is a window. A third user shared that in Esperanto, it’s called “necesejo,” meaning “necessary place.”

Other Reddit users talked about the differences between “washroom,” “bathroom,” and “restroom.” One commenter noted, “Canada famously uses ‘washroom,’” while another clarified that in the Midwest, “washroom” is also common, but “bathroom” and “restroom” are used more frequently.

One user humorously stated, “Best one, I think. You should be washing in there… not resting.”

What do you think about the term WC? What do you call the room that has a toilet? We would love to hear your opinions, so please share your thoughts!

A Woman Who Became A “Vampire” By Covering Entire Body In Tattoos Issues Warning

The woman who owns the Guinness World Record for having the most body modifications has issued a strong caution to those who are copying her.

Due of her peculiar appearance, Maria José Cristerna has earned the nickname “real-life vampire.” She has spent much of her life accumulating tattoos. At the age of fourteen, she got her first tattoo.

The Mexican woman has solidified her position as the most changed woman in the Guinness World Records for 2022 with a total of 50 bodily alterations.

Cristerna has undergone a number of strange physical changes, including several piercings, implants in her arms and forehead, a split tongue, and an incredible array of tattoos that nearly completely cover her body, including her eyeballs.

Speaking with Guinness World Records, Cristerna said that her father wasn’t initially in favor of the plan. However, he then accompanied me to the tattoo parlor where I got my first ever tattoo.

She declared, “Art runs through my veins,” underscoring her profound commitment to the arts. I have loved art since I was a small child, and I can now express it with my body.She ascribes her transformations to a ten-year abusive and oppressive marriage and works to support other women who have suffered similar emotional, mental, and physical violence.Love for oneself is the only path out of abuse and violence. “We came here to be happy,” she declared.

Her physical transformations serve as symbols of her strength, perseverance, and freedom from her past.

Every change has a certain significance, but Cristerna discovered that the most painful ones were the pigmentation in her eyes and the implants put in her arms.

Cristerna, who is celebrating her Guinness World Records title, is unwavering in her commitment to expressing herself.

“Your ambitions are always within your reach. There are no restrictions. If you put your mind to something, nothing is impossible, the woman proclaimed.

Her goal is to get tattoos covering every inch of her body, with the confident declaration, “I don’t care what people think about me.” I ranked myself highest. The key thing is that I am aware of who I am.

Cristerna did, however, offer a word of caution to young people considering making equally extreme changes: “It is irreversible, so you have to think it through very carefully.”

She went on, “I adore how I look, but you have to realize that there are young kids that are really accepting of piercings, tattoos, and all of that. We can eventually reach a point where it no longer fulfills our desires and we might grow tired of it since it has become trendy.

Therefore, in order to love it and be able to defend it for the rest of your life, you have to give it a lot of thought.

Even though the “Vampire Woman,” who wrote earlier this week about getting a new tattoo, advised others not to get tattoos until they were completely confident about them, she is still getting tattooed.

She shared a photo of her most recent makeover, which included a tattoo artist working on her back, on Instagram. An accompanying caption reads, “My brother’s tiger Rene Camarena Laus Satanus deserves one more stripe.”

We can’t believe what we see when we see her pre-ink appearance!

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