In the folklore of Taylor Swift's life, there are certain details and events that have come up repeatedly over the years. Some are referenced repeatedly in her lyrics, but stay off-topic in interviews (like certain early events in her relationship with Joe Alwyn—the initial attraction while she was seeing someone else, the dive bar date, the big rooftop talk), others are part of her mythology in song and interview form—like her childhood growing up on a Christmas tree farm.
In addition to being the subject of her 2019 Christmas song, this oh-so-quaint detail is a very real part of Swift's origin story. Before her family moved to Nashville so she could pursue her music career, the Swifts really did live on a Christmas tree farm in West Reading, Pennsylvania.
A full decade before she released "Christmas Tree Farm" the song, Swift opened up about her experiences growing up on said farm during an interview with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show. In the clip, which has resurfaced in time for the holidays, Swift shared that she had a job on the farm: collecting praying mantises from the Douglas fir trees.
"They lay eggs and they form pods on the Douglas firs Christmas trees," she explained. "It's their favorite tree to infest."
"That's where I would come in," she continued. "I would walk around the Christmas trees all day and pick them off and put them in, like, a little basket ... so people wouldn't have bugs in their houses."
Swift continued to reference her Christmas tree farm days over the years, including during a 2014 interview with Esquire, in which attributed the experience with her eternal love of the Christmas season.
"It was such a weird place to grow up," she said. "But it has cemented in me this unnatural level of excitement about fall and then the holiday season."
And then, of course, there's "Christmas Tree Farm" the song, which Swift released in 2019, along with a music video featuring real-life footage from the Swift family's holiday home videos back in the day.
-
Mikey Madison Took Over Her 'SNL' Weekend With Glam From the Stage to the NYC StreetsEnter: Red nails, Hollywood hair, and soft pink lips.
-
Gabrielle Union Talks Being Typecast as a Black Woman in Hollywood"I started feeling invisible, like my beauty wasn't wanted."
-
This Surprising Duo Has Been Called the "Most Compatible Royal Couple""They have had this deep love since they were both very young."
-
How Working With Taylor Swift Was Different Than Dita Von Teese ExpectedThe two co-starred in Taylor’s "Bejeweled" video.
-
Taylor Swift and Jaime King "Do Not Speak" Anymore, But Swift Is "Still an Amazing Godmother" to King's SonSwift doesn't let anything deter her from being full "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo" about her godmother duties.
-
Taylor Swift Ended Her 100-Day Instagram Hiatus to Support Selena Gomez — and Possibly Share a 'Reputation (Taylor's Version)' Easter EggWhy some fans think the post is a sign that long-awaited re-recording of 'Reputation' is (finally) coming soon.
-
Why Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Were Joined by a "Surprise Guest" on Their Private Montana VacationAn unexpected visitor reportedly crashed the couple's romantic skiing trip.
-
Why Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco Felt Embarrassed at One of Taylor Swift’s Parties"It was kind of cute, but I was mortified."
-
Donna Kelce Praises Taylor Swift for Her iHeartRadio Awards in the Sweetest Instagram PostJust sharing a little update about her son's totally normal, non-famous girlfriend.
-
New Details About When Taylor & Travis Started Dating Emerge From...Wes from 'The Challenge'??Reality competition legend AND nosy neighbor.
-
Taylor Swift's Ex Just Teased His Interest in Playing the Next James Bond at 2025 OscarsWith speculation swirling about who could take over the iconic role, Joe Alywn told a red carpet reporter how he felt about playing the character.
