I've heard this said before, and it seems stupid...but why and who would say it?
2007-12-01 11:29:48 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
That Heywood citation must be one of the earliest recorded usages. He was probably making fun of gullible people, and would have a whale of a time on this forum answering questions about Nibiru, the moon landings, and the year 2012.
"You may as soon persuade some Country Peasants, that the Moon is made of Green Cheese (as we say) as that 'tis bigger than his Cart-wheel" (Wilkins, New World 1, 1638)
If you read that quote carefully, you'll see it means that even simple farm folk DID NOT believe that it was small and made of cheese. It was probably just a bit of sarcasm. They had brainless twits back then, too.
2007-12-01 12:36:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yep. In English, it is the Heywood quote that is offered as the source.
On April 1, 2002, NASA ran an Astronomy Picture Of the Day (APOD) titled: Hubble Resolves Expiration Date For Green Cheese Moon
On April 1, 2006, they ran the exact same April Fool joke. On both dates, they have a link to popular Moon is made of Green Cheese myth (the link given by Tom A)
2007-12-01 12:54:54 · answer #2 · answered by Raymond 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it came from cartoons for children under 6 years of age but I don't know the exact name of the cartoon. I think they say that the moon is made of cheese because the children would be interested in astronomy.
2007-12-01 11:34:11 · answer #3 · answered by fahim.nawaz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From Wikipedia
"Earliest use in English
The origin of the term blue moon is steeped in folklore, and its meaning has changed and acquired new nuances over time. The earliest known usage was in 1362, in a pamphlet entitled Rede Me and Be Not Wrothe: "Yf they say the mone is belewe / We must beleve that it is true" [If they say the moon is blue, we must believe that it is true]. A similar moon-related adage was first recorded in the following year: "They would make men beleue ... that þe Moone is made of grene chese". "They would make men believe ... that the moon is made of green cheese"."
2007-12-01 13:35:59 · answer #4 · answered by memacabr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
John Heywood's Proverbes (1546) commented that "The moon is made of a greene cheese", "greene" meaning "not aged", but he was probably being sarcastic.
2007-12-01 11:33:24 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Wallace and Grommit went to the moon for a holiday and it WAS made of cheese.
It was on television so it must be true.
2007-12-01 15:04:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you telling me the moon ISN'T made of cheese?!?!
2007-12-01 14:53:13 · answer #7 · answered by Jason 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It came from the fertile imagination of an unscientific person.
2007-12-01 11:39:33 · answer #8 · answered by Zeezee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I remember saying that as a kid and pretending to reach up and eat it.
2007-12-01 11:31:48 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Silly ***... Fred thought that up in 1955.
2007-12-01 11:32:02 · answer #10 · answered by roadjack1096 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋