Claus Weselsky and the Union of Locomotive Drivers GdL exert influence on everyday life in Frankfurt even when they are not on strike. The threat of the GdL to potentially disrupt rail traffic again before Christmas has led many employees in the banking district to refrain from scheduling in-person meetings in Frankfurt. Instead, they opt for online formats, reminiscent of the times during the Covid-19 pandemic – better safe than sorry. Consequently, the financial district around Taunusanlage and Neue Mainzer Straße is currently not as crowded with financial professionals as usual – and there are only a few lights burning in some bank skyscrapers, not just in terms of the Advent wreath.

The situation is obviously quite different between Liebfrauen- and Römerberg, and between Paulskirche and Schirn. The Frankfurt Christmas market is bustling with activity even in the early afternoon. However, anyone wishing to join the festivities must not forget their wallet. This season, a cup of mulled wine – famously made from inexpensive Lambrusco rather than Châteauneuf-du-Pape – costs 4 euros at most stalls. And the grilled sausage is priced at five euros, while the Christmas Currywurst with speculoos crumble costs even more.

In Frankfurt, the season of "Wemmern" has begun. During this time of the year, conversations at street corners or in the office kitchen in the Rhine-Main area regularly end with the word "Wemmer": That is a very particular piece of vernacular that roughly translates to "in case we…" and in this instance means to say "in case we do not see each other again before, I wish you a blessed holiday." ("Wemmer uns nischt mer sehn, wünsch isch schon mal gesegnetes Fest!")

The countdown to the festive season is evident. Firstly, by the reappearance of "Saftiges Wildschweingulasch" (juicy wild boar goulash) and "Zarter Gänsebraten" (tender goose roast) on the lunch menu cards of local downtown butchers. Secondly, the email inbox is filled with advertisements for weight loss pills, a preemptive measure for the calorie-rich Christmas roast with dumplings. And thirdly, the schedules of Jahrhunderthalle Höchst and Festhalle are once again alternating between the magic shows of the Ehrlich Brothers and Nicolai Friedrich, and performances of The Phantom of the Opera, the musical Snow Queen, as well as ballet evenings with Swan Lake and Nutcracker. Christmas must be just around the corner.

For many, the Advent season signifies not so much reflection but rather retrospection – and this applies not only to employees in accounting. While the year is not yet over, there is a proliferation of remarks in conversations that not everything went as planned this year, both professionally and personally. Representing many personal retrospectives: "At the beginning of the year, I had resolved to lose at least five kilos in 2023. Now it's only nine more."

Connected with the retrospective, some are already turning their perspective to the coming year. In the jargon of communication departments of listed companies, the word "challenges" constantly appears in the outlook for 2024. But let's be honest, journalists can't stand the term and prefer to talk about "problems."

When looking ahead to 2024 – in the face of geopolitical catastrophes, climatic risks, and sobering economic data – some feel reminded of Karl Valentin: The future used to be better. Or the former banking supervisor Jochen Sanio, who once – when asked about the state of the domestic banking system – said: The year hasn't been that bad after all, at least compared to the next year.