Kamil Perry
The idea that the moon is made of cheese is a common trope that has been referenced in children's programmes from Tom and Jerry to Wallace and Gromit. The notion likely originated in 1546 when The Proverbs of John Heywood claimed the moon is made of a greene cheese. Over the following century, the phrase came into common use, with English natural philosopher John Wilkins writing in 1638, you may … soon persuade some country peasants that the moon is made of greene cheese. A 1902 survey of childlore by psychologist G. Stanley Hall found that the single most common explanation for the moon's composition among young children was that it was made of cheese.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin | The idea that the moon is made of cheese likely originated in 1546, in The Proverbs of John Heywood, where it is stated that "the moon is made of a greene cheese". |
| Variations | A common variation at the time was "to make one believe the Moon is made of green cheese", as seen in John Wilkins' book, The Discovery of a World. |
| Scientific Support | The scientific community has never supported the claim. |
| Cultural References | The idea has been referenced in children's programmes such as Tom and Jerry and Wallace and Gromit. |
| Children's Beliefs | A 1902 survey of childlore by psychologist G. Stanley Hall found that the idea that the moon is made of cheese was the single most common explanation among children who were unsure of the Moon's composition. |
| Reasoning | The moon's craters and holes made it look similar to Swiss cheese. |
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What You'll Learn
- The earliest record of the moon being made of cheese comes from a medieval Slavic fable
- The idea that the moon is made of cheese has been around for millennia
- The phrase 'the moon is made of green cheese' was first used in 1546
- NASA got in on the joke in 2002, claiming to have 'proven' the moon was made of cheese
- The myth of the moon being made of cheese is referenced in children's programmes like Tom and Jerry and Wallace and Gromit
The earliest record of the moon being made of cheese comes from a medieval Slavic fable
The idea that the moon is made of cheese is a common trope, although it is unclear how this idea originated. The earliest record of the moon being made of cheese dates back to 1546, when John Heywood wrote in his book of proverbs: "the moon is made of greene cheese". This is thought to be a joke, with "greene" referring to the age of the cheese rather than its colour. Over the following century, the phrase came into common use. In 1638, the English natural philosopher John Wilkins wrote, "you may … soon persuade some country peasants that the moon is made of greene cheese, (as we say), speaking of human gullibility.
The idea that the moon is made of cheese has been referenced in many children's programmes, from Tom and Jerry to Wallace and Gromit. A 1902 survey of childlore by psychologist G. Stanley Hall found that, of 423 children, 18 thought that the moon was made of cheese. Some of the children surveyed thought that the moon was eaten by mice, or that it was fed by throwing cheese up to the clouds. Others thought that it was green because the man in the moon fed on green grass, or that it was really green but looked yellow because it was wrapped in yellow cheese cloth.
It has been suggested that the idea that the moon is made of cheese stems from the fact that the moon, with all its craters and holes, looks a lot like Swiss cheese. However, it is unclear whether this is the origin of the idea that the moon is made of cheese, or whether this is simply an observation that has been made since the idea came about.
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The idea that the moon is made of cheese has been around for millennia
The idea that the moon is made of cheese has persisted into modern times, with references to it being made in children's programmes such as Tom and Jerry and Wallace and Gromit. A 1902 survey of childlore by psychologist G. Stanley Hall found that, of 423 children, 18 thought that the moon was made of cheese. Some of these children thought that the moon was green because the 'man in the moon' fed on green grass, or that its spots were mould. Others thought that it was really green but looked yellow because it was wrapped in yellow cheese cloth.
The idea that the moon is made of cheese may have stemmed from the fact that the moon, with all its craters and holes, looks a lot like Swiss cheese.
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The phrase 'the moon is made of green cheese' was first used in 1546
The idea that the moon is made of cheese likely originated in 1546, when John Heywood's *The Proverbs of John Heywood* claimed 'the moon is made of a greene cheese'. The phrase 'greene' refers to the age of the cheese, rather than its colour.
The idea that the moon is made of cheese may have been influenced by the fact that the moon, with all its craters and holes, looks a lot like Swiss cheese. The phrase 'the moon is made of green cheese' is often used sarcastically to imply that someone is gullible or ignorant.
The phrase was certainly in common use by 1638, when the English natural philosopher John Wilkins wrote, 'You may… soon persuade some country peasants that the moon is made of greene cheese, (as we say)'.
A 1902 survey of childlore by psychologist G. Stanley Hall in the United States found that, of 423 children, 18 thought the moon was made of cheese.
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NASA got in on the joke in 2002, claiming to have 'proven' the moon was made of cheese
The idea that the moon is made of cheese likely originated in 1546, when John Heywood wrote in *The Proverbs of John Heywood* that "the moon is made of a greene cheese". The phrase "to make one believe the Moon is made of green cheese" was a common variation at the time, meaning to hoax. In 1638, English natural philosopher John Wilkins wrote, "you may … soon persuade some country peasants that the moon is made of greene cheese, (as we say)," speaking of human gullibility.
NASA got in on the joke in 2002, claiming to have proven the moon was made of cheese. The claim was, of course, not true, but it was a fun way to engage with the long-standing idea that the moon is made of cheese. The idea that the moon is made of cheese has been referenced in many children's programmes, from *Tom and Jerry* to *Wallace and Gromit*. A 1902 survey of childlore by psychologist G. Stanley Hall in the United States found that, out of 423 children, 18 thought the moon was made of cheese.
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The myth of the moon being made of cheese is referenced in children's programmes like Tom and Jerry and Wallace and Gromit
The idea that the moon is made of cheese has been referenced in children's programmes like Tom and Jerry and Wallace and Gromit. The myth likely originated in 1546, when The Proverbs of John Heywood claimed "the moon is made of a greene cheese". The phrase came into common use over the following century, and was used to refer to human gullibility.
The idea that the moon is made of cheese may have come about because the moon's craters and holes made it look like Swiss cheese. A 1902 survey of childlore by psychologist G. Stanley Hall found that, of 423 children, 18 thought the moon was made of cheese. Some of these children thought that the man in the moon fed on green grass, that its spots were mould, or that it was wrapped in yellow cheese cloth.
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Frequently asked questions
The idea that the moon is made of cheese likely originated in 1546, when The Proverbs of John Heywood claimed "the moon is made of a greene cheese".
In a 1902 survey of childlore by psychologist G. Stanley Hall in the United States, it was found that the single most common explanation for the moon's composition among children was that it was made of cheese. However, it is unclear whether these children truly believed this or were simply joking.
John Heywood's claim was likely a joke, as "greene" refers to the food's age rather than its colour.
No. The scientific community has never supported the claim that the moon is made of cheese.
