Randy Chandler
The idea that the moon is made of cheese has persisted for centuries, with the earliest record of this notion stemming from a medieval Slavic fable featuring a wolf and a fox. In the fable, the fox tricks the wolf into believing that the moon's reflection on a pond is a wheel of cheese, leading the wolf to drink the water and burst. While the scientific community has never supported this claim, it has been perpetuated in popular culture, with references in children's programs and even NASA's April Fool's Day joke in 2002.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin of the myth | A medieval Slavic fable about a hungry wolf chasing a fox |
| Date of the earliest record | 1546 |
| Author of the earliest record | John Heywood |
| Other sources | Petrus Alphonsi's Disciplina Clericalis, Reynard the Fox, Le Roman de Renart, The Fox, the Wolf and the Husbandman, La Fontaine's Fables, Grimm's fairy tales |
| Pop culture references | Tom and Jerry, Wallace and Gromit, McDonald's commercial, The Phantom Tollbooth, NASA's April Fool's joke |
| Scientific validity | None |
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What You'll Learn
The Moon is not made of cheese
The Moon-cheese connection has persisted for centuries, appearing in various forms of media, from children's programmes to adult references. It has also been the subject of scientific scrutiny, with some analyses of Moon rocks suggesting that their seismic velocities differ from those of any known rock on Earth. However, this data can be accounted for by the extensive history of impacts on the lunar surface, which has resulted in the unique composition of Moon rocks.
The notion that the Moon is made of cheese has been perpetuated by its use in popular culture, including references in Tom and Jerry, Wallace and Gromit, and even a McDonald's commercial. NASA even got in on the joke, claiming on April Fool's Day in 2002 that they had "proven" the Moon was made of cheese, complete with a photoshopped image of an expiration date on one of the Moon's craters.
While the Moon-cheese connection has provided much entertainment value, it is important to remember that it is just a myth. The Moon is not made of cheese, but rather, is composed of dust and rock, as was discovered when humans landed on the Moon in 1969.
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The Moon-cheese myth's origin
The Moon-cheese myth has been a part of popular culture for centuries, with references in children's programmes, books, and films. The idea that the Moon is made of cheese has been used as a humorous trope, with various theories and folkloric stories attempting to explain its origin.
The earliest known record of this myth comes from a medieval Slavic/Servian folk tale featuring a ravenous wolf and a cunning fox. In the story, the fox tricks the wolf into believing that the moon's reflection on a pond is a wheel of cheese. The wolf drinks all the water, hoping to reach the cheese, but eventually bursts. This tale has been adapted and spread across various cultures, with different variations appearing in European, Jewish, English, Middle Scots, French, and German folklore.
Another possible origin of the Moon-cheese association is the Moon's appearance. Before humans landed on the Moon, its craters and holes may have resembled Swiss cheese to observers. This visual similarity may have contributed to the enduring myth.
The Moon-cheese myth has also been perpetuated by its use in media and popular culture. References to the Moon being made of cheese can be found in various children's programmes, such as "Tom and Jerry" and "Wallace and Gromit". Additionally, NASA played into the joke on April Fool's Day in 2002 when they claimed to have "proven" that the Moon was made of cheese.
While the Moon-cheese myth has been around for a long time, it is important to note that it has never been taken seriously by the scientific community. The idea is often used as a humorous conceit and a way to test people's gullibility, as seen in NASA's April Fool's prank.
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The Moon-cheese myth in pop culture
The Moon-cheese myth has been referenced in pop culture for centuries, from medieval fables to modern-day films. The earliest known record of the myth comes from a medieval Slavic/Servian folk tale, in which a fox tricks a hungry wolf into believing that the moon's reflection on a pond is a wheel of cheese. The wolf drinks all the water, hoping to reach the cheese, but ultimately bursts. This tale was later adapted into various versions, including a Middle English version called "þe Vox and þe Wolf" and a Middle Scots version called "The Fox, the Wolf and the Husbandman".
The idea of the Moon being made of cheese has also appeared in children's popular culture, with references in cartoons like Tom and Jerry and Wallace and Gromit, as well as in adult references. In 1902, a survey by psychologist G. Stanley Hall found that out of 423 children, 18 five-year-olds thought the Moon was made of cheese. This belief may have stemmed from the Moon's cratered surface, resembling Swiss cheese.
NASA even played into the joke on April Fool's Day in 2002, claiming to have "proven" that the Moon was made of cheese by releasing a photoshopped image with an expiration date on one of the craters. This prank continued a tradition of testing people's gullibility on April Fool's Day.
The Moon-cheese myth has also been referenced in other forms of media, such as books and films. In the 1990 Wallace and Gromit film "A Grand Day Out", the characters Wallace and his dog Gromit want a cheese-and-cracker snack but have no cheese, leading them on a journey to the Moon in search of more. This film may have been inspired by the earlier moon-cheese references in pop culture, continuing the tradition of turning the Moon into cheese in popular media.
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NASA's Moon-cheese joke
The idea that the moon is made of cheese has been a part of popular culture for a long time, with references in Tom and Jerry, Wallace and Gromit, and even a McDonald's commercial. This myth may have originated from a medieval Slavic or Servian folk tale about a hungry wolf chasing a fox. The fox tricks the wolf by convincing him that the moon's reflection on a pond is a block of cheese, and the wolf ends up drinking too much water and bursting. While the scientific community has never supported this claim, it has persisted as a humorous concept in children's media and adult references.
NASA played along with this joke on April Fool's Day in 2002. They claimed to have proven that the moon was made of cheese by releasing a Photoshopped image of the moon with an expiration date on one of its craters. This prank was in good fun and intended to test people's gullibility. The joke also aligns with the notion of the moon being made of "green" cheese, implying that it is naive or young.
The concept of the moon being made of cheese has been a playful part of human imagination for centuries. It has inspired stories, jokes, and even scientific inquiries. While we know that the moon is not actually made of cheese, it doesn't stop us from enjoying the whimsical idea and incorporating it into our culture. The Moon-cheese joke is a testament to humanity's playful side and our ability to find humour and wonder in the universe around us.
The Moon-cheese joke has been so pervasive that it has even found its way into the language. The phrase "green cheese" has become synonymous with naivety or youth, reflecting the playful nature of the joke. Moreover, the Moon-cheese joke has also been associated with the expression "to the moon and back," which is used to describe a great distance or extent. This expression further showcases the imaginative and creative nature of human language and humour.
In conclusion, NASA's Moon-cheese joke is a lighthearted example of how a centuries-old myth can be reimagined and celebrated in modern times. By participating in this playful prank, NASA not only acknowledged the enduring popularity of the Moon-cheese myth but also contributed to its legacy in popular culture. This joke serves as a reminder that even in the realm of science and space exploration, there is room for humour, creativity, and a touch of whimsy.
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The Moon-cheese myth and children
The Moon-cheese myth has been a part of popular culture for centuries, with references in children's shows, movies, and books. The idea that the Moon is made of cheese has been used as a humorous trope in media such as Tom and Jerry, Wallace and Gromit, and The Phantom Tollbooth. This myth likely originated from a medieval Slavic or Servian folk tale, in which a hungry wolf is tricked by a fox into believing that the Moon's reflection on a pond is a wheel of cheese. The fox convinces the wolf to drink all the water to get the cheese, leading to the wolf drinking too much and bursting.
The Moon-cheese myth has been perpetuated and spread globally through various forms, including oral folklore, written literature, and advertising. For example, a McDonald's commercial and a cheese ad referenced the Moon-cheese myth. The phrase "the Moon is made of green cheese" first appeared in The Proverbs of John Heywood, a collection of adages published in 1546 by a well-known 16th-century English writer. This phrase may have been adapted from earlier French folklore or oral tales from different Jewish communities.
The Moon-cheese myth has also been explored in children's literature and popular culture. For instance, the Middle English poem "þe Vox and þe Wolf" and the Middle Scots tale "The Fox, the Wolf, and the Husbandman" include the Moon-cheese element. Additionally, the idea that the Moon is fed by throwing cheese into the clouds or that it is made of cheese mixed with wax or lava has been mentioned in children's popular culture. G. Stanley Hall, a psychologist, found in a 1902 survey of childlore that out of 423 children, 18 five-year-olds thought the Moon was made of cheese.
While the Moon-cheese myth has been a playful and imaginative part of human culture, it is important to note that the scientific community has never supported this claim. The Moon is, in fact, composed of dust and rock, as discovered during the 1969 moon landing. However, this myth continues to capture the imagination of children and adults alike, with references in media and literature aimed at various age groups.
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Frequently asked questions
The idea of the Moon being made of cheese has been around for centuries. The earliest record of this notion comes from a medieval Slavic fable about a wolf and a fox.
The medieval fable describes a wolf chasing a fox. The fox tricks the wolf into believing that the moon's reflection on a pond is a wheel of cheese. The wolf drinks all the water to get the cheese but bursts in the process.
No, the scientific community has never supported this claim. The Moon is made of rock and dust.
Yes, the Moon has been referenced as being made of cheese in children's programmes such as Tom and Jerry and Wallace and Gromit, as well as in adult media.
Yes, on April Fool's Day in 2002, NASA claimed to have "proven" that the Moon was made of cheese. They released a Photoshopped image of the Moon with an expiration date printed on one of its craters.
