Greetings and salutations!

As I'm writing this, my hometown area has received its first true cold snap. Time has come to dig out mittens, hats, scarfs (my favourite part!), and coats. Holiday shopping and holiday grocery shopping have also started.

It's time to start considering what your plans are for the holidays you celebrate. In the USA, we are a few days away from Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving has a long and varied history (as Prof. Opal tells us in this issue!) in my country. What history tells us is that not everything is as it might seem.

Today, however, we hope to take the day to celebrate our friends and loved ones.

Before the rush of the winter holiday season starts, no matter where you are, take a moment to stop and think what you are truly grateful for. What do you give thanks for as our year draws to a close? Some of us are expecting new family members, others are starting new jobs or have moved into a new home. Regardless of big or small, we all have good things we can be happy about and thankful for.

Right now I'm thankful for my fingerless mittens a dear friend (and former Hufflepuff) made for me. I'm thankful that my friends are healthy or are on their way to being healthy. I'm thankful for my House, my students, and work that I can find great joy in. I'm thankful for my family and my home.

And, I'm thankful that I can have a turkey on my table in a few weeks. After all, cooking is one of my great joys and it is something that can pull all of us together.

I wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season!

— Prof. Anya