Taylor Swift, whose music has energized the global economy, is set to perform in Toronto over the next two days, and the city is buzzing with excitement. Fans, known as “Swifties,” have carried on a unique tradition for Swift’s Eras Tour – the exchange of friendship bracelets – and Toronto is welcoming her in a big way.
The bracelet-swapping trend began with Swift’s hit song “You’re on Your Own, Kid,” which inspired concertgoers to exchange friendship bracelets as a sign of connection and camaraderie. At each show, Swifties trade these bracelets among themselves and sometimes even offer them to Swift’s family or special guests. In a show of affection for the Anti-Hero singer, fans have also started decorating concert venues with these colorful wristbands.
This tradition has gained momentum over Swift’s North American tour. When she performed at New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome and Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium, fans welcomed her with massive friendship bracelet displays draped over each venue. Now, Swift’s Canadian fans have created their own tribute. On Monday, a fan spotted a giant friendship bracelet hung outside the Rogers Centre in Toronto, anticipating the 34-year-old star’s arrival.
Swift acknowledged the popularity of the friendship bracelet trend during her New Orleans show in October. “You’ve created traditions. You’ve created this mass movement of joy every time we play a show. And it makes me so proud, it really does,” Swift told the cheering crowd. Reflecting on the moment the trend began, she added, “I just showed up one day, and you guys were trading friendship bracelets, and I was like, ‘that’s cool.’ And now there is a giant friendship bracelet on the outside of this stadium.”
She continued, “It’s so nice of them to do this for us, but it’s even nicer that you guys created something that went beyond what I ever expected for this tour.”
Swift’s historic Eras Tour, which has seen unprecedented ticket sales and worldwide fanfare, will conclude its final eight shows in Canada, beginning November 14 and ending December 8, 2024. As fans eagerly await her performances, the friendship bracelet tradition has become a defining symbol of Swift’s tour, showing the artist’s ability to inspire connection and community among her fans wherever she goes.
