The heartwarming video has gone viral on TikTok
The sisters said they go back to their parents’ house every year to keep the tradition alive
A father has filmed his daughters walking down the stairs on Christmas morning every single year for three decades. Jess Emery, 30, posted the footage recorded by her dad, Richard, 59, showing precious moments from Jess’ very first Christmas through to the present day.
Set to the track featured in this year’s John Lewis Christmas advertisement, ‘Where Love Lives’ by Alison Limerick, Jess says the montage has encouraged others on social media to create similar compilations with their own families.
Jess, who works as an account manager and lives in Barnet, North London, said: “We’ve lived in the same house since I was one year old and for my first Christmas coming down the stairs my mum, Vera, 62, said to do it. My dad filmed absolutely everything, he’s always had a video camera in his hand whether it was on holiday or at Christmas.”
The video shows 30 years of Christmas mornings
She added: “He’s always documented our lives very well. Obviously with the John Lewis advert this year reminiscing and looking back at old videos I thought, this is perfect. When you go through the teen years you’re like ‘I don’t want to be here doing this’, and are a bit apprehensive with teenage ‘can’t be bothered’ moodiness.”
Jess continued: “It’s really funny people picked up on this with me and my sister, Rebecca, 27, looking like we don’t want to be there. Now both me and my sister don’t live at home but we always make the effort to go back on Christmas Eve so we can do the walk in the morning.”
The clips were initially compiled as a birthday present for Jess’ sister, Rebecca, a few years back, but Jess decided to post it online this week – and was stunned when it garnered 300,000 views overnight.
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Jess said: “All day my sister has been ringing saying ‘I can’t believe it, people are commenting’. John Lewis commenting was amazing. He [Jess’ dad] doesn’t have TikTok so he has no idea. We’ve been screenshotting the comments and sending them to him. It’s so nice kind of reminiscing and looking back.”
She added: “He was filming it not knowing where it’s going to go and be shared. It’s so nice – people have commented saying they’re going to do it and have saved it so they can do with their families.”
Jess says her dad Richard has always been “quite sentimental” about their family traditions, even taking the same photo on the same wall every year on holiday.
The dad has been overwhelmed by reactions to the video
She explained: “This for us was the same tradition – we’d wait at the top of the stairs and my mum would go down and switch the lights on and sort the presents. He still films everything, we have a family group chat that is always popping off with different things and photos. He’s always been into video and loves editing so he’s finally getting recognition for something he’s done. He’s loving it.”
Dad Richard expressed: “I’m amazed how it’s blown up so quickly. I started this 30 odd years ago from the beginning. Kind of when I started I did a couple and thought, I’ll carry on doing it. I thought at one point I’ll edit it all together as a short film.”
He added: “The idea was at some point when Jess or Rebecca get married I’d play it at their wedding to embarrass them. I’m just touched by people even having the time to make comments, they’re just so lovely. I’m just stunned people picked it up it’s hit the heartstrings somewhere, I’m glad people are seeing it.”
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