- Title: FC Union Berlin fans hold a candle-lit carol concert before Christmas
- Date: 23rd December 2017
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (German) FC UNION BERLIN STADIUM SPEAKER, CHRISTIAN ARBEIT, SAYING: "Here we do real family and home music, it is all very small. In the past 15 years we have had offers from famous instrumentalists and choirs but we always said 'No, this is a family party and only the school choir belonging to the high school around the corner sings here'. There is a man-choir, a wind orchestra, and they are all families, amateurs, they make music the way we do it at home for Christmas. And it doesn't matter how big it gets, this is the core and I think the secret as well." WOMAN WEARING CHRISTMAS HAT CHILDREN WAITING FOR SINGING TO BEGIN (SOUNDBITE) (German) FC UNION BERLIN FAN, BASTIAN RICARDO, SAYING: "I think it is a beautiful moment when all the Union fans sing as well as all the people on the tribune there. I find it very nice." (SOUNDBITE) (German) FC UNION BERLIN FAN, UWE KLAUER, SAYING: "It is very warm all together." (SOUNDBITE) (German) FC UNION BERLIN FAN, RAMONA KLAUER, SAYING: "And it is a nice thing to do for Christmas. It is Christmas tomorrow and then it all starts, all the stress, and this helps prepare mentally in a nice way." (SOUNDBITE) (German) FC UNION BERLIN FAN, UWE KLAUER, SAYING: "And then we sing Christmas carols here and we can practise a bit, which is a great advantage" (SOUNDBITE) (German) FC UNION BERLIN FAN, RAMONA KLAUER, SAYING: "So that we can sing properly tomorrow." (SOUNDBITE) (German) FC UNION BERLIN FAN, UWE KLAUER, SAYING: "We need to practise the songs a bit for tomorrow."
- Embargoed: 6th January 2018 20:41
- Keywords: FC Union Berlin Christmas concert
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0037D4W7Y7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Thousands of people gathered at the An der Alten Foersterei stadium on Saturday (December 23) to sing carols, drink mulled wine and wave candles.
In a very festive mood, FC Union Berlin fans turned up at their stadium dressed in many varied and colourful Christmas costumes to celebrate the Weihnachtssingen (Christmas Carols Event).
The famous event began in in 2003, when just 89 fans turned up. Nowadays the event is attended by players and supporters from other teams around Germany and Europe, and football chants have been added to the carols.
The stadium, famous for hosting concerts and events, is home to FC Union Berlin and was to its forerunners since it was opened in 1920.
The team, distinguished by a special closeness to its fans, is sixth in the German second division and finished the year with a defeat at home against Dynamo Dresden on December 9. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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