Daylight saving time 2025: When does the time change, and why?

As with each year, the moment has come to shift the clocks back once again. In North America, the clock setting back process will take place officially on Sunday, November 2, 2025, when the Daylight Saving Time will end and 1 hour will be taken off. In Europe, the process will be completed a week earlier, on October 26, 2025.

The change happens two times a year—clocks are set ahead by one hour in Spring and back by one hour in Fall. The following year, 2026, it will start in the US on March 8 but in Europe and UK it will start on March 29, 2026. This custom isn’t new; it dates back to World War I.

What is Daylight Saving Time?

Daylight Saving Time (DST) is a concept whose basic premise is that the longer the sun shines during summer, the more the clocks will be set forward an hour in an attempt to take advantage of the natural light in the evening. In winter, when the days get shorter, clocks are readjusted one hour earlier.

Although conferring the name “Daylight Savings Time” to the phenomenon is common, the correct term is “Daylight Saving Time.” It aims to reduce energy consumption and to have more hours of daylight that can be productively used.

When and why did this tradition begin?

The idea of Daylight Saving Time is linked to Benjamin Franklin. During his stay in France in 1784, he penned a comical letter in the “Journal of Paris,” recommending that people could reduce their candle consumption by making better use of daylight.

This notion, however, took a long time before it actually came into practice. Germany was the first to implement it in 1916 as a measure to save electricity during the First World War. Other European nations soon followed suit, and the U.S. did so as well in 1918.

The “Standard Time Act,” which prescribed the setting up of both time zones and daylight saving time in the U.S., was signed by President Woodrow Wilson.

There was also some opposition at some point

Following the conclusion of WWI, a great number of farmers took to the streets, so to speak, protesting. They claimed that the switch in the clocks led to a decrease in morning light and consequently it had an adverse effect on their labor. As a result of this protest, the government decided to put an end to daylight saving time for the time being.

However, it was during the second world war that Franklin D. Roosevelt brought it back in 1942, dubbing it “War Time.”

Current Form of Time Change

After 1945, there was a mix-up about the time changes among some of the states in the United States. A few states went by DST while others did not. This caused the formation of several different time zones in one country.

The “Uniform Time Act” was passed in 1966 to put an end to the confusion. It provided that the states that are on the same time as the sun play by the same rules.

Then came the “Energy Policy Act of 2005,” which was signed into law in 2007, and it allowed the intense period of daylight saving time to be even longer. The new time will start every year on the second Sunday of March and end on the first Sunday of November.

Why was Daylight Saving Time adopted?

It is claimed that the main objective of DST is to save energy. The idea was that when there is more daylight in the evening, the consumption of electricity will be lower.

Nevertheless, findings from studies conducted in the recent past indicate that the energy savings brought about by DST are very insignificant. The use of modern electric gadgets and LED illumination has already become so energy-efficient that the effect of DST on energy usage is almost negligible.

Some research items are even indicating that the practice could result in more energy being consumed in certain locations due to the fact that people might be using more air conditioning units as the days get longer and hotter.

Health Effects: Heart Attacks and Sleep Deprivation

Daylight Saving Time has been noted to impact health as well. A research article that appeared in the journal “Open Heart” indicated that the change of clock by one hour in the spring results in a 24% increase in heart attack cases on the Monday that follows.

In a similar vein, a 2009 study revealed that miners lost about 40 minutes of sleep on average due to the time change and they also reported a 5.7% increase in injuries.

Interestingly, pets also seem to be affected by this change because their daily habits are closely related to those of their owners.

Scientific Reason: Earth’s Tilt and Sun Position

The axial tilt of the Earth leads to the occurrence of seasons. During the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere, when the Earth’s axis is tilted toward the Sun, the days are longer and hence, this period of the year is seen as the most apt for implementing Daylight Saving Time.

Countries that are situated at higher latitudes like the U.S., Canada, and parts of Europe gain more from Daylight Saving Time due to the more pronounced disparity in the daily light and darkness hours.

Which countries have DST and which don’t?

USA and Canada:
Most states and provinces observe daylight saving time, but Hawaii and Arizona are not. Some parts of Canada—such as Saskatchewan and some areas of British Columbia—are on standard time year-round.

Europe:
Almost all European countries follow DST. It is called “British Summer Time (BST)” or “Central European Summer Time (CEST).” Russia, Belarus, and Iceland are not included.

Australia and New Zealand:
In the Southern Hemisphere, it is Applies to fixed time. Some Australian states, such as New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, observe DST, while Queensland and Western Australia do not.

Controversy over DST and its future direction

Many US states have now begun reconsidering this. More than 19 states have proposed implementing either permanent DST or permanent standard time. However, this would require the US Congress to amend the Uniform Time Act.

A large segment of the public in Europe is also tired of changing clocks twice a year. In a survey conducted in the European Union, 84% of people expressed a desire to end this system.

Conclusion: Is it time to end this tradition?

Daylight Saving Time is quite a curious routine that initially started as an energy-saving measure during the war. But in the contemporary lifestyle, with technology and energy systems, its validity is disputable.

On one hand, long and bright evenings are a delight for some people, on the other hand, the scientific community and health practitioners are worried about its negative aspects.

Maybe it’s time to think—should we keep on altering our clocks every six months, or is it “time” to make a permanent shift?

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