This graphic shows the sun's declination on December 1st. The sun will reach its minimum declination = winter solstice in three weeks on December 21st 2014, 23.03 UTC. During the next 21 days the declination will decrease by 1.7° only and during the following 21 days increase by 1.7° only which means that daylength won't change a lot. Therefore in the northern (southern) hemisphere the next 6 weeks will be the time with the minimal (maximal) input of solar energy what we (they) normally - many phenomena don't follow the traditional pattern any more - feel with a delay of 1-2 months.
