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The Moon is made of green cheese" is a statement referring to a fanciful belief that the Moon is composed of cheese. In its original formulation as a proverb and metaphor for credulity with roots in fable, this refers to the perception of a simpleton who sees a reflection of the Moon in water and mistakes it for a round cheese wheel. It is widespread as a folkloric motif among many of the world's cultures, and the notion has also found its way into both children's folklore and into modern popular culture.
The phrase "green cheese" in this proverb simply refers to a young cheese (indeed, sometimes "cream cheese" is used), though modern people may interpret the color reference literally.
There was never an actual historical popular belief that the Moon is made of green cheese (cf., the myth of the Flat Earth). Indeed, it was typically used as an example of extreme credulity.
The Moon is made of rock which is from indeterminate sources.
"The Moon is made of green cheese" was one of the most popular proverbs in 16th and 17th century English literature,[4] and it was also in use after this time. It likely originated in 1546, when The Proverbs of John Heywood claimed "the moon is made of a greene cheese."[A] A common variation is "to make one believe the Moon is made of green cheese" (i.e., to hoax).
In French, there is the proverb "Il veut prendre la lune avec les dents" ("He wants to grab the moon in his teeth"), alluded to in Rabelais.
The characterization is also common in stories of gothamites, including the Moonrakers of Wiltshire.
The phrase "green cheese" in this proverb simply refers to a young cheese (indeed, sometimes "cream cheese" is used), though modern people may interpret the color reference literally.
There was never an actual historical popular belief that the Moon is made of green cheese (cf., the myth of the Flat Earth). Indeed, it was typically used as an example of extreme credulity.
The Moon is made of rock which is from indeterminate sources.
"The Moon is made of green cheese" was one of the most popular proverbs in 16th and 17th century English literature,[4] and it was also in use after this time. It likely originated in 1546, when The Proverbs of John Heywood claimed "the moon is made of a greene cheese."[A] A common variation is "to make one believe the Moon is made of green cheese" (i.e., to hoax).
In French, there is the proverb "Il veut prendre la lune avec les dents" ("He wants to grab the moon in his teeth"), alluded to in Rabelais.
The characterization is also common in stories of gothamites, including the Moonrakers of Wiltshire.