What is Daylight Saving Time (DST)? Daylight Saving Time is a practice of turning the clock ahead as warmer weather approaches and back again when temperatures drop. The purpose is to maximize daylight by extending outdoor activity during daylight hours.
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of turning the clock ahead as warmer weather approaches and back again when temperatures drop.
Daylight Saving Time was established to maximize our outdoor enjoyment during daylight hours.
The months when the clocks are adjusted forward and back vary between Northern and Southern hemispheres.
How Does Daylight Saving Time Function?
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It’s essential to be aware that Daylight Saving Time may vary from country to country and some don’t observe it at all.
Examples include American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Japan, India and China.
Most American states adjust their clocks forward one hour on the second Sunday in March and back one hour on the first Sunday in November; however, Arizona (except in Navajo Nation) and Hawaii do not observe Daylight Saving Time.
Here are a few of the world’s variations in observing Daylight Saving Time:
In nonequatorial Brazil, Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins the first Sunday in November and ends the third Sunday in February.
In Europe, DST begins on the last Sunday in March at 1 a.m. Coordinated Universal Time and concludes on the last Sunday in October at the same time each year.
Germany observes Daylight Saving Time from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday of October.
Russia sets its clock ahead an hour on the last Sunday in March at 2 a.m. local time and sets it back an hour on the last Sunday in October to maintain this extra daylight during summer months. With two extra hours of sunlight per week during this period, Russians enjoy two extra hours of freedom to do things they enjoy most during their free time.
In Israel and Palestine, Daylight Saving Time is observed annually; however, the start and end dates for this transition can differ between countries.
Jordan observes Daylight Saving Time throughout the year. In Australia, DST begins on the last Sunday in October and ends the last Sunday in March; however, Tasmania begins DST on the first Sunday in October along with New Zealand before ending it on March 31. New Zealand ends its DST period on the third Sunday after that.
What is the history of Daylight Saving Time?
Daylight Saving Time was first proposed in 1895 by George Hudson, a New Zealand entomologist who collected insects during his free time. To provide him with more daylight hours after work for collecting bugs, Hudson proposed Daylight Saving Time as his solution.
Daylight Saving Time spread rapidly around the world during World War II, as energy conservation and energy savings became paramount concerns. Nowadays, DST is observed in over 70 countries around the globe.
Has there been any alteration to Daylight Saving Time since its creation?
Congress passed the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005, mandating time changes to Daylight Saving Time; extending it three weeks earlier in the spring and one week later in the fall.
Beginning March 11, 2007, clocks will move ahead an hour on the second Sunday in March and fall back an hour on the first Sunday in November. This change was intended to reduce reliance on artificial lighting sources and, thus, conserve energy.
Daylight Saving Time remains a controversial issue, even after these changes. Some argue that it has become outdated and no longer serves its original purpose; others assert that Daylight Saving Time helps reduce traffic accidents and crime rates.
Supporters of Daylight Saving Time (DST) want it to remain permanent throughout the year in order to enjoy an extra hour of sleep during summer months.
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