Thousands of fans of German Bundesliga club Union Berlin gathered for the traditional Christmas carol singing at their favourite team’s stadium on Tuesday night (December 23) for what they described as a unique atmosphere.

According to the club, the highly sought after 28,500 tickets were quickly gone, something two fans were able to confirm.

“Many other people here in the stadium would probably say it's become part of the tradition. For us, it's the first time we've been to the Christmas sing-along, the first time in five years we've managed to get tickets,” said a young man, wearing an Union Berlin Santa hat.

Another visitor who gave her name as Jeanette said for her the event “heralds the start of the Christmas season. It's been going on here for 23 years now. The atmosphere, the way it's conveyed, is just great.”

Union Berlin is known for its team spirit and knows what it owes to its fans.

During the transition from the former East German “Oberliga” top division to the German Bundesliga, fans were an important source of support.

When the club faced bankruptcy in 1997, Union Berlin fans demonstrated at Brandenburg Gate and started fundraising campaigns.

On December 3, Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich benefitted from two own goals by hosts Union Berlin and survived intense second half pressure before earning a 3-2 victory to reach the German Cup quarter-finals.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

BERLIN, GERMANY (DECEMBER 23, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. NIGHT VIEW OF BUNDESLIGA CLUB UNION BERLIN FANS SINGING CHRISTMAS CAROLS AT “ALTE FOERSTEREI” (OLD FORESTRY) STADIUM

2. SINGING FANS HOLDING UP “EISERN UNION” (IRON UNION) SOCCER SCARVES

3. MASCOT ANIMATING CHANTING MASSES

4. PAN ACROSS STADIUM WITH SINGING FANS

5. VARIOUS OF FANS SINGING “EISERN UNION, ON AND ON”

6. FANS HOLDING CANDLES PROVIDED BY ORGANISERS

7. VARIOUS OF FANS SINGING CHRISTMAS CAROL

8. VARIOUS NIGHT VIEWS OF SINGING FANS HOLDING CANDLES

9. (SOUNDBITE) (German) UNION BERLIN SOCCER FAN, SABINE (NO LAST NAME GIVEN), SAYING:

“We are Union fans and we came because of the great atmosphere, first and foremost because of the community spirit and the fact that this event takes place here every year, that everyone joins in and sings along.”

10. “1.FC UNION” LOGO

11. (SOUNDBITE) (German) UNION BERLIN SOCCER FAN, SYLVIA (NO LAST NAME GIVEN), SAYING:

"Well, I've been going to Union for years anyway, and the Union singing itself is always fantastic. It's always so friendly.”

12. FANS SINGING

13. FANS EATING “BRATWURST” SAUSAGES IN A ROLL

14. FAN DRINKING STEAMING DRINK

15. (SOUNDBITE) (German) UNION BERLIN SOCCER FAN, JEANETTE (NO LAST NAME GIVEN), SAYING:

“It heralds the start of the Christmas season. It's been going on for 23 years now. The atmosphere, the way it's conveyed, is just great.”

16. VARIOUS OF FANS WEARING “UNION” SANTA HATS STANDING BEHIND CRASH BARRIER

17. BRATWURST VENDORS STANDING AT GRILL

18. BRATWURSTS AND OTHER MEAT ON GRILL

19. (SOUNDBITE) (German) UNION BERLIN SOCCER FAN, (NO NAME GIVEN), SAYING:

"Well, many other people here in the stadium would probably say it's become part of the tradition. For us, it's the first time we've been to the Christmas sing-along, the first time in five years (FRIEND NODS, SAYS “YES, IT’S THE FIRST TIME”) we've managed to get tickets, just to enjoy it and to really ring in Christmas.”

20. TWO SANTA CLAUSES WALKING PAST

21. BRATWURSTS ON GRILL

22. FANS CHANTING “EISERN UNION” TO MUSIC