I went out yesterday afternoon and thought it seems to be brighter tonight. Then I thought nah, the Shortest Day or Winter Solstice is December the 21st. That's correct but due to the Earth's elliptical orbit the actual earliest sunset was the 7th December and the sunsets are getting later. Top and short of it I wasn't going mad. Just thought I'd share that.
Not looked into it, re sun up, sun down. but this year, December 22nd will officially be the shortest day. It's not fixed.
You only really notice the days getting longer on January 17. I know this because my mother-in-law told me. So its a fact
The Norse winter fire festival in Shetland, Up Helly Aa, is always celebrated on the last Tuesday in January. Been cancelled recently because of covid but back on again. Hopefully I will be there to celebrate the end of the long winter nights and the return of Spring. TBH it really is just an excuse to get pissed.
It's the dark evenings that get to me. I like to take the dog out after work, but its a nightmare when it's dark at 4.30. It won't be long....