Daylight Savings Time begins this weekend

Published 10:30 am Tuesday, March 9, 2021

Most parts of North America will begin Daylight Saving Time on March 14, 2021, at 2:00 a.m., respective to their time zones. In the European Union, “Summer Time” begins at 1:00 a.m. on the last Sunday in March, which this year will be March 28. The change is made at the same absolute time across all time zones respective to Greenwich Mean Time, which also is known as Universal Time. One reason DST is still practiced in many areas of the world is to push an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening and make better use of this daylight. There are various origin stories linked to DST, including one that involves Benjamin Franklin. DST also has been touted as a way to save resources during times of war or as a means to helping farmers be more prosperous. However, despite the many proclaimed benefits of DST, there are many detractors who insist that there are no perceived benefits. Some of these DST naysayers say switching the clocks twice a year can negatively affect the body’s natural circadian rhythm. Various efforts both domestically and abroad have been instituted to abolish DST, but as of 2021, it remains on the calendar.