earliest sunset

The earliest sunset does not occur at the winter solstice here in Colorado- it happens on December 7th. It is different at different latitudes. After that date for us the morning sunrises keep on getting later but the sunsets start to get earlier again. The morning sunrises don't switch over till after Christmas. So the days do continue to get shorter anyway but I don't mind the later sunrises. I really dread the early sunsets in the winter ( dark at 5 PM for instance)  and am always cheered when the sun starts to go back again the other way.  Yay sun! Heading on back again toward those brighter sun-lit evenings...  ( not going to happen really soon I admit but I am looking forward to it)