Why is there a moon on the outhouse door?
The decoration on the outhouse door has no standard. The well-known crescent moon on American outhouses was popularized by cartoonists and had a questionable basis in fact. There are authors who claim the practice began during the colonial period as an early "mens"/"ladies" designation for an illiterate populace (the sun and moon being popular symbols for the sexes during those times). Others dismiss the claim as an urban legend. What is certain is that the purpose of the hole is for venting and light and there were a wide variety of shapes and placements employed.
Why is there a moon on the outhouse door according to what is dismissed as an urban legend?
"mens"/"ladies" designation
Outhouse
The decoration on the outhouse door has no standard. The well-known crescent moon on American outhouses was popularized by cartoonists and had a questionable basis in fact. There are authors who claim the practice began during the colonial period as an early "mens"/"ladies" designation for an illiterate populace (the sun and moon being popular symbols for the sexes during those times). Others dismiss the claim as an urban legend. What is certain is that the purpose of the hole is for venting and light and there were a wide variety of shapes and placements employed.
What is certain about why there is a moon on the outhouse door?
venting and light
Outhouse
Outhouse
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outhouse
The reason there is a moon on the outhouse door is to provide venting and light. There is also an urban legend that the moon and sun on the doors of outhouses was for "mens"/"ladies" designation for the illiterate populace, as they were popular symbols for the sexes at that time.