Matt, go back to remedial astronomy. The winter solstice is the time when the period of sunlight (day) is its shortest in the northern hemisphere because of the the angle of the earth relative to the sun. I find it pretty funny you've never noticed it gets light out earlier and stays light later in summer than winter.

Thanks Peg - beautiful words. Almost all of us welcome the prospect of light and warmth, and dream of rainbow-jeweled spring. Happy Solstice.