once in a blue moon

• Question:-How long is a blue moon - as in "Once in a blue moon?"?
  The phrase "Once in a blue moon". How often does it pop up and what is it?
  
  Answer:-A blue moon is the second full moon in a calendar month. (The origins of the term go back to something about blue being unusual or magical.) This happens once about every 2 1/2 years.
• Question:-What does this quote mean? "See once in a while, once in a blue moon, people will surprise you...?
  "See once in a while, once in a blue moon, people will surprise you, and once in a while people may even take your breath away"
  
  Answer:-it means something is "rare"
• Question:-What is something you only do once in a blue moon?
  BQ: Did you know there's a blue moon tonight?
  
  Answer:-go out on the town
• Question:-What is it meant by 'every once in a blue moon' here?
  ----------
  Every once in a blue moon, I'll make some remark thinking this is the time I'm going to get a smile out of her.
  
  Answer:-The meaning of the statement every once in a blue moon, means every once in a while something occurs.
• Question:-Question for married men. Does it seem you only do something right once in a blue moon?
  inspired by the song Once in a blue moon-Earl Thomas Conley
  It's about a man and wife who are having some hard times.
  
  Answer:-I do things right all the time. It's convincing her that I'm right that happens once in a blue moon.
• Question:-Do you ever have a cigarette once in a blue moon?
  I like to take a couple hits on one every so often (we're talking once every two months or so).
  
  Am I the only one?
  
  Answer:-im about to go for 1 right now=thnx for reminding me
• Question:-Comments on once in a blue moon day poem?
  Once in a blue moon
  when you're tired of
  being blue
  and cannot stand
  to watch any more news
  of fires or crashes
  or Washington
  gone mad and
  have become bored from
  eating to find comfort
  over stress of wallet
  growing so thin
  
  You need to be taken
  away from the pain
  the injustice of life
  and then
  something happens
  to make your world
  seem okay
  you're blessed to witness
  a good thing happen
  to a good person
  where they find their
  deserved
  just reward.
  
  Sometimes, I'll have
  a day like that
  and today
  was that once
  in a blue moon
  day.
  
  Answer:-LOVE IT
• Question:-Where does the Phrase "once in a blue moon come from"?
  Where does the Phrase "once in a blue moon come from"
  
  Answer:-"Once in a blue moon" means *exceedingly* rare (in fact, something you might NEVER see!)... much rare than the "second full moon in a month" explanation suggests.
  
  In fact. . . sorry to all those who have accepted the notion, but the "second full moon in a month" explanation is incorrect in two respects.
  
  First, the astronomical use of the expression "blue moon" is very recent and is NOT the source of the old expression "once in a blue moon" , which appeared in print as early as 1528 -- and seems to have more to do with a LITERAL "blue moon" (a rare occurrence, at best)
  
  Second, the "second full moon" explanation was itself based on a misunderstanding of the astronomical use of the term!
  
  -------------------------
  
  The Astronomical Mistake
  
  This "second full moon" explanation, popularized by the board game "Trivial Pursuit" is actually based on a mistake in a 1946 article in Sky & Telescope magazine.
  
  In 1999 the magazine printed two articles on the subject by way of retraction
  
  A) explaining the REAL meaning of the astronomical expression (which is somewhat more complicated than the catchy "second full moon" idea),
  "What's a Blue Moon?"
  explains the correct astronomical usge -- when a season contained four full moons, the third was known as a "blue moon" -- and how the 1946 mistake came about
  http://skytonight.com/observing/objects/moon/3304131.html?page=1&c=y
  
  and
  B) tracing just how the mistake was made and has spread into popular lore (via radio, Trivial Pursuit and newspaper articles)
  "Once in a Blue Moon:Fact and fantasy about blue Moons" by Philip Hiscock
  (opening snip)
  "According to old folklore," some people say, the second full Moon in a calendar month is called a "blue Moon." They go on to explain that this is the origin of the expression "once in a blue Moon." But it isn't true! The term "blue Moon" has been around a long time, well over 400 years, but its calendrical meaning has become widespread only in the last 20 years."
  http://skytonight.com/observing/objects/moon/3305141.html
  
  Compare
  http://www.wilsonsalmanac.com/bluemoon.html
  
  ------------------------
  
  The REAL Origins
  
  But all the astronomical uses (even the correct one!) are very recent, and have nothing to do with the origins of the expression "Once in a blue moon"
  
  An sample explanation of the meaning
  E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
  Blue Moon: Once in a blue moon. Very rarely indeed.
  On December 10th, 1883, we had a “blue moon.” The winter was unusually mild.
  http://www.bartleby.com/81/2105.html
  
  Here is an explanation of just what the older "blue moon" of the expresion was:
  
  "Once in a Blue Moon" is a phrase that refers to something that in all likelihood will never happen at all or only far off in the future. . . . The expression itself derives from the extremely rare, actually blue-tinged Moon caused by atmospheric layers of forest-fire smoke or volcanic dust at just the right height and visual angle, a rare occurrence."
  http://www.ipl.org/div/farq/bluemoonFARQ.html
  
  (Also note that the original "blue moon" need not be a FULL moon.)
  
  
  See also the summary & links at:
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_moon
• Question:-How can you continue to patronize a SECRET once in a blue moon voting system in USA?
  We currently have secret system where you can NOT Verify/trace/validate or monitor your ballot cast, like you might watch your own bank account.
  
  Answer:-I take a picture with my cell phone when I vote to show what I voted for!
  
  PS POWER TO THE PEOPLE!
• Question:-Can you describe how your once in a blue moon ballot cast in USA helps you or your family?
  You can suggest why or why not representative govt is a joke in the Banana republic of/by/for the wealthy few in USA.
  
  Answer:-It does not help. It is an illusion to make you believe you are making a difference..even if it is real votes, they are puppet people that you vote for.