Yes, it’s that time of year, when most Americans set their clocks ahead one hour and lose the hour of sleep. The result is that now it will stay light an hour later in the evening.
Not all states observe this tradition. Hawaii and Arizona are not on Daylight Saving Time. Either are the US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and Puerto Rico. The Navajo Nation in Arizona, however, does observe DST, which goes into effect March 8 at 2:00am. Daylight Saving Time ends the first Sunday in November, Nov. 1.
The time change isn’t observed by Hawaii, most of Arizona, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Marianas.
The UK and Europe observe DST but not until the last Sunday in March.
Check this list of countries for dates when DST begins.
In honor of losing sleep, enjoy Bob Dylan’s 1964 The Times They Are A Changin’
blogging tips
Thank you so much for this perspective. I’ve been dreaming about my dream for quite sometime but too scared to try. This may have just jumped started me beyond that fear. The manifesto is terrific. May I print it for my own personal use?
gene hull
I like both standard and daylight savings time. I like the variety and adjusting to the change. Psychologically, I believe, it is good for us to deal with it twice a year. Keeps our adaptability factor horned and reminds us that life is a moveable feast.
And dem’s my taughts on that.!
Diana
Love the extra daylight…hate losing that one hour of sleep….I admit it…I am a sleeper. It is ok though….will get it back in the fall. 🙂
Happy festa della donna e buona domenica….
imarancher
I have heard that during the War years (every year somewhere) it was done to save electricity. The theory being that you don’t turn on as many lights getting off to work as you do in the evenings after work when you get home. If you have more time in the daylight in the evening you used less electricity. But if that were true, wouldn’t we have DST in winter when it gets dark so early? It stays light in the south until 9:30 PM, DST, during the summer but is dark at 6 PM, EST, during the dead of winter. (DST is daylight saving time and EST is Eastern Standard Time for our overseas readers.)
margieinitaly
Thank you Bonnie. I should have included the history behind DST..Actually you are correct and I think the farmers also had much to gain by being able to work later into the evening.Actually Benjamin Franklin first thought of the idea. More history can be found here http://www.webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/c.html
imarancher
Today’s farmers hate it. They get up at 3am during EST and it is actually 4am during DST which means they have to work later instead of getting back to the barn to mend equipment. Now I have to feed horses and sometimes cattle and they like to eat on time. Especially horses. Thoroughbreds have been known to have strokes from playing with time changes and their food. It is OK if I feed an hour early but that is considered a snack and they are in a snit if the “regular” time rolls around and they don’t get fed again. If it was not so dangerous to over feed horses I would do it just for the peace and quiet it would bring. And it goes the other way in the fall when we go back an hour and the 4 pm feed is delayed to the new 4 pm which is 5 pm which is way too late to their way of thinking. Ah yes, the joy of farm life. And never think that it is ever quiet on the farm. What farmers would all like is one standard time.
Julia
Enjoyed the article but why? Why do we turn our clocks back? I once thought it was for school children but now they are at the bus stop in the dark. I miss your lovely smile Margie
margieinitaly
Thank you so much Julia…I appreciate your taking time to read and comment on my post. I miss you too…Here is a link with history behind the concept of DST.
http://www.webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/c.html