A heartwarming family tradition from North London has captured the nation's attention after a video spanning three decades of Christmas mornings went viral on social media.
A Father's Festive Legacy
Richard Emery, 59, has meticulously filmed his two daughters walking down the stairs on Christmas morning every single year for the past thirty years. The touching compilation, set to the song from this year's John Lewis Christmas advertisement, was recently shared online by his eldest daughter, Jess Emery, 30, and quickly amassed hundreds of thousands of views.
Jess, an account manager from Barnet, explained the tradition's origins. "We've lived in the same house since I was one year old," she said. "For my first Christmas coming down the stairs, my mum, Vera, 62, suggested it. My dad filmed absolutely everything; he's always had a video camera in his hand, whether on holiday or at Christmas."
From Teenage Reluctance to Cherished Ritual
The montage, which runs from Jess's first Christmas to the present day, charmingly documents the passage of time, including the sisters' teenage years where their enthusiasm visibly waned. "When you go through the teen years you're like 'I don't want to be here doing this'," Jess admitted. "There's a bit of apprehensive, teenage 'can't be bothered' moodiness."
Now, despite neither Jess nor her 27-year-old sister, Rebecca, living at the family home, the tradition remains unbroken. "We always make the effort to go back on Christmas Eve so we can do the walk in the morning," Jess confirmed, highlighting the ritual's enduring importance.
The video was first edited together a few years ago as a birthday gift for Rebecca. Jess decided to post it on TikTok this week and was stunned when it garnered 300,000 views overnight. "All day my sister has been ringing saying 'I can't believe it, people are commenting'," Jess said. The family was particularly thrilled when the official John Lewis social media account responded to the clip.
A Sentimental Dad's Delight
Richard, who doesn't use TikTok himself, has been overwhelmed by the reaction. His daughters have been screenshotting comments and sending them to him. "I'm amazed how it's blown up so quickly," Richard expressed. "I started this 30-odd years ago from the beginning. I thought at one point I'll edit it all together as a short film."
He revealed his long-term plan was to play it at his daughters' weddings to gently embarrass them. Described by Jess as "quite sentimental," Richard has a history of documenting family life, including taking the same holiday photo against the same wall annually.
"He's always been into video and loves editing, so he's finally getting recognition for something he's done," Jess said. "He's loving it." Richard added, "I'm just touched by people even having the time to make comments... I'm glad people are seeing it."
The viral success has inspired countless viewers, with many commenting that they plan to start similar video traditions with their own families, proving the timeless appeal of a simple, loving Christmas ritual.
