Editing this new volume of the Yearbook presented numerous challenges and opportunities for innovation. For the first time, the entire process was conducted using the Open Journal System. As editors, we learned a great deal, along with our esteemed authors and reviewers. Therefore, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to all of you who successfully completed the entire process, from submitting the papers to reviewing, copyediting, and, ultimately, the production of the articles, obituaries, book reviews, and bibliographies. A special thanks goes to our esteemed reviewers who once again demonstrated exceptional professionalism and, most importantly, adhered to our policy of double-blind peer review process within the given timeframe. We greatly appreciate the dedication and effort of the following individuals: Péter Barta, Mario Brdar, Christian Grandl, Galit Hasan-Rokem, Anna Konstantinova, Outi Lauhakangas, Anna T. Litovkina, Marcas Mac Coinnigh, Matej Meterc, Wolfgang Mieder, Draženka Molnar, Aderemi Raji-Oyelade, Kathrin Steyer, Aneta Stojić, Grzegorz Szpila, Katalin Vargha, and Damien Villers.

As editors of Proverbium, we have taken further small, yet significant steps towards internationalization and enhancing the visibility of our Yearbook. Proverbium has been indexed in the Sherpa/Romeo database, serving as a starting point for its inclusion in other renowned databases. Additionally, we have made arrangements to launch the Proverbium Online Supplement Series, where we welcome original monographs, bibliographies, and other volumes related to the topic of proverbs. Following a positive double-blind international review, selected books will be published as open-access books by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Osijek. The current plan is to publish up to two Proverbium Online Supplements per year. Submissions can be sent to proverbium@ffos.hr.

We are happy to present to you the current issue of Proverbium 40 (2023) featuring ten highly captivating articles that were selected as the best by our reviewers. These articles delve into the proverb lore of English, Fon, German, Indonesian, Kashmiri, Nzema, Russian, and Yoruba speakers, as well as explore the use of proverbs in the works of George B. Bryan, Septima Poinsette Clark, and Johannes Salat. Additionally, the issue contains a thought-provoking obituary for Shirley L. Arora, where we can find an engaging correspondence between her and Professor Wolfgang Mieder. The two book reviews offer valuable critical insights on four books, while Wolfgang Mieder's bibliographies are a treasure trove for all scholars in the field of paremiology.

We sincerely hope that reading the 40th volume of Proverbium will be as enjoyable for you as it was for us.

Melita Aleksa Varga and Hrisztalina Hrisztova-Gotthardt