I know that the winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year, but when I think of winter, I don't think "dark". My state definitely gets plenty of precipitation, and the days are short come December/January, but many days are bright, and brightness with snow is like extra brightness sometimes. Even if it is somewhat cloudy, if there is snow on the ground it seems kind of bright to a degree, to me. We get enough snow that a lot of the winter there is at least some remnant of snow on the ground.