Simple answer is that New Years day is the 1st of January and the shortest day was the 21st December. The calendar and the solstices are not alligned, but it maybe would be a bad idea if they were. I already feel better knowing that we are past the shortest day - it makes me feel spring is on the way. New research seems to suggest that the lack of sunlight and the subsequent vitamin D deficiencies are contributing massively to our health issues in Scotland - particularly our high rate of MS.