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Rhubarb in Folklore, Art, and Literature
Rhubarb is more than just a tangy ingredient for crumbles—this remarkable plant has a rich folklore and a surprising presence in art, literature, and even language. Across cultures and generations, rhubarb stands out as both magical and mundane, healing and humble. Explore the stories, symbols, and artistic uses that make rhubarb an icon beyond the kitchen.
Folklore and Old Wives’ Tales
- A Plant of Contradictions: In China, ancient physicians revered rhubarb for its medicinal roots, while European peasants later declared its leaves toxic—a fact confirmed by modern science (oxalic acid is the culprit).
- Luck and Protection: Some old gardening traditions suggested planting rhubarb near the back door would bring luck and help “draw” health into the house.
- Theatrical Murmurs: In Britain, “rhubarb, rhubarb…” was repeated by extras to create crowd noise on stage and in films, making “rhubarb” slang for meaningless chatter.
Rhubarb in Art
- Botanical Illustration: Rhubarb’s huge leaves and vivid stalks have long inspired artists and illustrators—appearing in medieval herbals, Victorian watercolors, and contemporary prints.
- Iconic Designs: The dramatic, bold outline of rhubarb has graced pottery, wallpaper, and even haute couture—its color and shape emblematic of spring’s promise.
- Forced Rhubarb’s Glow: Photos and paintings of glowing, neon-pink forced rhubarb stems (cultivated under “forcing pots” in Yorkshire) are a continuing muse for documentary projects and modern garden photographers.
In Literature and Language
- “Pie Plant” Persona: American and British writers fondly refer to rhubarb as the “pie plant”—evidence of its place in home cooking and nostalgia.
- Victorian Memoirs: Garden writers in the 1800s waxed poetic about the thrill of the first spring picking, the “teasing promise of pie,” and rhubarb’s place in cottage gardens.
- Poetry and Prose:
- Sylvia Plath’s journals mention the joy of growing and cutting rhubarb.
- Seamus Heaney (Irish Nobel laureate) describes childhood memory of “rhubarb leaf parasols.”
- Everyday Speech: To have a “rhubarb” in baseball slang is to have a fight or noisy dispute—originating from the crowd noise technique above!
Symbols and Meanings
- Bittersweetness: The stark tartness of rhubarb, balanced by sugar, is often used as a symbol of life’s sharp and sweet moments in poetry and song.
- Resilience: Rhubarb’s indestructibility is a metaphor for stubborn survival, endurance, and returning after adversity.
Festivals and Cultural Celebrations
- Wakefield Rhubarb Festival (UK): Art installations, storytelling, music, and rhubarb-themed crafts highlight the community’s pride in this humble crop.
Wrapping Up
Rhubarb’s impact goes far beyond the plate—it’s a plant woven into language, art, and the stories we tell about seasons, family, and home. Next time you slice into a stalk, remember you’re part of a folklore and tradition that crisscrosses continents and centuries.