A Very Merry Midwinter (or Midsummer)! And a Happy (belated) New Year to you too :-)

 

The Earth's at maximum tilt (defining the middle of the season) on the 22nd Dec, this year, but closest to the Sun (sort of marking the actual new year) on the 5th of Jan (at 1am UTC in fact) - so a Happy (belated) New Year to you then too!

See here, here & here for background info.

NB in 2011 Midwinter occurs at 0530 on 22nd Dec - usually it falls on the 21st, but not always, hence the generalisation in the diagram above!