In many countries, the Winter Solstice brings a change in season, as it is the first day of winter in the North.
The solar heating and stored energy in the Earth's surface and atmosphere is near its lowest during winter, making it usually the coldest months of the year.
On the brighter side in the north, daylight hours will increase every day from now until June.
Pictured above are the different directions of the rising sun throughout the year above a small town in Greece.