Some families like to play games together during the holidays. But Monopoly takes forever and Scrabble is not for everybody. How about introducing Rhubarb Trivia to the fun? Print up this fact sheet and distribute it so people can study. Then hold a contest. Winner gets an extra helping of Rhubarb Pie or Rhubarb Pudding or Rhubarb Crumble Bars. At last year’s Rhubarb Festival, there was a Trivia Contest — get ready for Festival 2026!

What did the ancient Greeks call rhubarb?	The Barbarian Plant
Who thought he brought rhubarb back from the new World? Columbus or Da Gama or Cabot	Columbus
When did rhubarb roots and seeds arrive in Western Europe?	1600s/17th century
Which country was the first to use rhubarb for food?	England
Where in England is The Rhubarb Triangle? *	West Yorkshire
When was rhubarb introduced to North America?	1770
By whom?	Benjamin Franklin sent rhubarb from Europe to John Bartram in Philadelphia
Is rhubarb a fruit or a vegetable?	A vegetable
Which state has rhubarb as their official State Fruit?	New York State
Half of all commercial rhubarb in the US is from which * state?	Washington State
When is National Rhubarb Pie Day?	January 23rd
When is National Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie Day?	June 9th
What is a common nickname for Rhubarb?	Pie plant
What is another common nickname for Rhubarb?	Neighbor plant
How long ago were the Chinese using rhubarb medicinally*	5000 years
What part of rhubarb is medicinal?	The root
What were rhubarb roots used for in medicine?	As a laxative

This is the blog of the Bennington Rhubarb Festival, which was started in 2013 to benefit the library Building Fund. If you would like to help the Building Fund, please contribute any amount to the G.E.P. Dodge Library Building Fund, Bennington, NH, 03442, USA.

The next installment of this blog will be posted on January 13, 2025. If you click the Follow button, all future posts will be sent straight to your inbox every month.