Patrick Oconnell
The Moon being made of green cheese is a popular proverb that originated in the 16th century. It is used to describe someone's gullibility or ignorance, implying that if they believe something ridiculous, they will believe anything. The phrase is thought to have come from a medieval Slavic fable about a fox tricking a wolf into thinking the moon's reflection in the water was cheese. The phrase has stuck around for centuries and has been used in various forms of media, from children's programmes to films.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin | Medieval Slavic fable about a ravenous wolf chasing a fox |
| John Heywood's 1546 book of proverbs | |
| John Wilkins' 1638 book "The Discovery of a World in the Moone" | |
| Various folk tales from different countries | |
| The 1989 film "A Grand Day Out" | |
| A DC comic featuring a character named Little Cheese | |
| A 2002 NASA April Fool's joke | |
| Meaning | Extreme credulity |
| Human gullibility | |
| Humour | |
| Hindsight bias | |
| Dunning-Kruger effect | |
| Ignorance | |
| Utter disbelief | |
| Incredulity |
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What You'll Learn
The Moon being made of green cheese is a myth
Over the following century, the phrase became commonly used to refer to someone's gullibility or ignorance. For example, in 1638, English natural philosopher John Wilkins wrote, "You may... soon persuade some country peasants that the moon is made of green cheese." The idea that the Moon is made of cheese has also appeared as a humorous conceit in children's popular culture and in adult references. For instance, in the 1989 film "A Grand Day Out," the plot centres on the characters Wallace and Gromit travelling to the Moon to gather cheese.
While the Moon being made of green cheese is a myth, it is worth noting that the harmonic signature of Moon rock—the seismic velocity at which shockwaves travel—is said to be closer to green cheese than to any rock on Earth. However, this does not provide proof, and the notion of the Moon being made of cheese remains a myth.
In conclusion, the Moon being made of green cheese is a myth that originated from a medieval fable and has since been used to highlight human gullibility. While there have been playful references to this myth in popular culture, it is important to recognise that it is not based on scientific discovery or factual evidence.
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The Moon and cheese in popular culture
The Moon and cheese have been intertwined in popular culture for centuries, with the notion of the Moon being made of cheese appearing in various forms. The idea has been a humorous motif in children's stories, folklore, and adult references, often used as an example of extreme credulity or naivete. This concept has been particularly prevalent in European culture and has found its way into modern popular culture as well.
One of the earliest references to the Moon being made of cheese can be found in the 16th century, with the proverb "the moon is made of green cheese" appearing in John Heywood's book "The Proverbs of John Heywood" in 1546. This phrase became widely used in the following century, although it was never taken seriously by the scientific community. The phrase "green cheese" refers to young, unripe cheese, indicating that the Moon was new or fresh.
The notion of the Moon being made of cheese has also appeared in various folk tales and fables from different cultures. One common story involves a character mistaking the reflection of the Moon on water for a wheel of cheese, highlighting their simplicity or gullibility. This tale can be found in various forms, including a medieval Serbian folk tale about a hungry wolf being tricked by a fox and a Turkish story about Naseeruddin Hodja.
In modern popular culture, the Moon-cheese trope has been featured in various forms of media, including films, cartoons, and video games. For example, in the 1990 film "A Grand Day Out," Wallace and Gromit go on a journey to the Moon in search of cheese. In the video game "Mario Kart: Super Circuit," the Cheese Land racetrack is set on the Moon, made of cartoon cheese and inhabited by mouse characters.
Additionally, the Moon-cheese concept has been referenced in advertising and television shows. McDonald's once featured an ad with Ronald McDonald attempting to reach the Moon to collect cheese for the restaurant's burgers. In an episode of "Wonder Woman" from 1987, Steve Trevor reports from the Moon that its surface does not resemble green cheese.
The Moon-cheese trope continues to be a source of humour and creativity in popular culture, often used for comedic effect or as a playful twist on reality. It serves as a testament to the enduring fascination that both the Moon and cheese hold in the human imagination.
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The Moon's reflection in water
The idea that the moon is made of green cheese is a humorous concept that has persisted for centuries. It is not a scientific discovery but rather an expression used to convey disbelief or sarcasm, implying that someone is gullible or ignorant. The notion can be traced back to medieval Slavic fables and English literature from the 16th and 17th centuries, where it was used metaphorically to highlight extreme credulity.
One of the earliest records of this idea is found in a medieval Slavic fable, which tells the tale of a hungry wolf chasing a fox. The fox, using cunning and trickery, convinces the wolf that the moon's reflection on the water is a floating block of cheese. The wolf, in his greed, drinks all the water to get to the cheese but ends up bursting. This story, known as "The Wolf Dives into the Water for Reflected Cheese," is classified as a type of folk tale featuring a clever fox.
The expression gained popularity in the 16th and 17th centuries, particularly in English literature. John Heywood's book of proverbs, published in 1546, includes the saying, "The moon is made of greene cheese." In this context, greene" refers to the youthfulness of the cheese rather than its colour. The phrase was used sarcastically to imply that someone is easily fooled or naive.
Over time, the phrase became commonly used to highlight human gullibility. For example, in 1638, English natural philosopher John Wilkins wrote, "You may ... soon persuade some country peasants that the moon is made of greene cheese." The scientific community has never supported the claim that the moon is made of cheese, but it has become a popular trope in children's media and popular culture, such as the characters Wallace and Gromit, who go to the moon to gather cheese in the film "A Grand Day Out."
The reflection of the moon in water, as described in the Slavic fable, is a key element of the "moon made of cheese" concept. The fox in the story uses the moon's reflection to deceive the wolf, highlighting the idea that perceptions can be misleading. The moon's reflection on a body of water can create an illusion that may be misinterpreted, just as the wolf mistook the reflection for a block of cheese.
In conclusion, the idea that the moon is made of green cheese is a long-standing expression used to convey disbelief or sarcasm. The reflection of the moon in water, as depicted in the Slavic fable, is a central element of this concept, illustrating how easily perceptions can be deceived. While the phrase has persisted for centuries, it has never been taken as a scientific fact, but rather as a humorous trope in popular culture.
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The Moon's colour
The idea that the Moon could be made of cheese, specifically green cheese, may seem like a whimsical notion, but it has its roots in medieval folklore and literature. The earliest known record of this concept comes from a medieval Slavic fable, in which a cunning fox tricks a hungry wolf into believing that the Moon's reflection on a pond is a floating block of cheese. The wolf ends up drinking too much water in his greed and bursts, leaving the fox victorious. This tale, known as "The Wolf Dives into the Water for Reflected Cheese," highlights the cleverness of the fox and the gullibility of the wolf.
In the 16th century, the English playwright and poet John Heywood popularized the expression in his book of proverbs published in 1546. Heywood used the phrase "the moon is made of greene cheese" sarcastically to emphasize disbelief or incredulity. In this context, "greene" referred to the youthfulness of the cheese rather than its colour. The phrase was often used to suggest that someone was being gullible or ignorant, implying that if they believed something outrageous, they would also believe the Moon was made of cheese.
Over time, the expression took on a life of its own, and people in later centuries began to think that it reflected an actual belief from earlier times. This misconception may be due to hindsight bias or the Dunning-Kruger effect. However, there is no evidence that anyone genuinely thought the Moon was made of cheese, and it was primarily used as a figure of speech. The phrase became so ingrained in popular culture that even NASA played a prank on April Fool's Day in 2002, claiming to have "proven" that the Moon was made of cheese.
While the Moon's colour may appear to be various shades of grey or white to the naked eye, it is important to note that our perception can be influenced by lighting conditions, atmospheric effects, and the limitations of human vision. The Moon's surface is actually quite diverse, consisting of ancient lava flows, impact craters, and rocky terrain. These features can vary in colour, with some areas appearing darker or lighter due to differences in composition and the presence of minerals.
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The Moon and human gullibility
The Moon being made of green cheese is an old expression, a proverb, and an idiom. It is not a scientific discovery but a humorous notion and an example of extreme credulity. The phrase is often used sarcastically to imply that a person is gullible or ignorant, as in, they will believe anything.
The earliest record of this idea comes from a medieval Slavic fable about a fox and a wolf. In the story, the fox convinces the wolf that the moon's reflection on a pond is a block of cheese. The wolf drinks all the water and bursts, leaving the fox alive. This is known as "The Wolf Dives into the Water for Reflected Cheese" in the Aarne-Thompson classification of folktales. A similar story is found in Zulu, Gascon, Turkish, and Servian tales.
The expression was first recorded in English literature in 1546, in John Heywood's book of proverbs, where he wrote:
> "Ye fetch circumquaques to make me believe, Or thinke, that the moone is made of greene cheese. And when ye have made me a lout in all these, It seemeth ye would make me goe to bed at noone."
Here, "greene" refers to the youthfulness of the cheese, not its color. The phrase became popular in the 16th and 17th centuries and was used to indicate a hoax or something unbelievable. In 1638, English natural philosopher John Wilkins wrote, "You may... soon persuade some country peasants that the moon is made of green cheese." This quote highlights the idea that even the most ill-educated people wouldn't actually believe the moon was made of cheese, emphasizing the absurdity of the notion.
Despite this, the phrase has persisted in popular culture, with references in children's programs like Tom and Jerry, Wallace and Gromit, and even a DC comic featuring a character named Little Cheese, who finds cheese on the moon. NASA also played a prank on April Fool's Day in 2002, claiming to have "proven" the moon was made of cheese.
While it is clear that the moon is not made of cheese, the phrase continues to be a part of our cultural lexicon, often used to highlight human gullibility or express disbelief.
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Frequently asked questions
The phrase originated as a sarcastic remark to imply that a person is gullible or ignorant. The phrase is based on a medieval Slavic fable about a ravenous wolf chasing a fox. The fox convinces the wolf that the moon's reflection on a pond is a block of cheese, and the wolf ends up drinking too much water and bursting. The earliest record of this phrase is from John Heywood's book of proverbs published in 1546.
The term "green" in "green cheese" does not refer to the colour but rather the youthful age of the cheese. In the context of the fable, the moon's reflection on the pond is a block of fresh cheese that has not yet been properly aged.
No, there was never a historical popular belief that the Moon is made of green cheese. It was used as an example of extreme credulity, with the understanding that it was absurd and false.
