This might seem counterintuitive, but here's why:

* Earth's orbit is elliptical, not circular: This means that Earth's distance from the sun varies throughout the year.

* Earth's seasons are caused by the tilt of its axis, not by distance from the sun: The Earth's axis is tilted at approximately 23.5 degrees, and this tilt causes different parts of the Earth to receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year.

So, while Earth is closer to the sun in winter, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, resulting in shorter days and colder temperatures.