Daylight Saving Time "Spring Ahead, Fall Back"

In 2010, daylight saving time begins in the US on the second Sunday in March, 2010 and ends on the first Sunday in November.

March 14, 2010 at 2AM is the time to set clocks ahead one hour in the U.S.

November 7, 2010 at 2AM is the time to set clocks back one hour in the U.S.

In the UK and European Union, daylight saving time - better known as summer time - begins on the last Sunday of March and ends on the last Sunday in October.

March 28, 2010 at 1AM is the time to set clocks ahead one hour in the UK and EU.

October 31, 2010 at 1AM is the time to set clocks back one hour in the UK and EU.

Daylight Saving Time Trivia & Fun Facts

A humorous look at daylight saving time.

US Legislation passed in 2005 eventually took effect in 2007, allowing Americans to enjoy more daylight beginning in March and ending in November, adding extra days to the traditional April-October daylight saving time span.

It was in the early 20th century when Germany became the country that first adopted daylight saving time, which was quickly followed by several other European countries.

Today, more than 70 nations around the world use DST to take advantage of longer summer hours by setting clocks ahead in spring and back in the fall.

The observance of daylight saving time (more commonly known in various parts of the U.S. as "daylight savings time") remains controversial. Soon after it was enacted, American farmers actually had daylight saving time repealed in favor of "God's time" and, although the movement was short-lived, in many rural areas the sentiment remains.

Notable exceptions to DST occurred during World War II, and later during the 1970's Arab Oil Embargo, when daylight saving time was rolled back to help conserve energy consumption.

Today, the observance serves a dual purpose in that it also marks the time to change the batteries in household fire and smoke alarms in many communities.

Bucking tradition, the sun-drenched states of Arizona and Hawaii are the only places in the continental U.S. that do not observe daylight saving time, but instead stay on "standard time" year round.

More about daylight saving time around the Web:

A Brief History of Daylight Saving Time

Daylight Saving Time, Its History and Why We Use It

Daylight Saving Time - History & Explanation

Daylight Saving Time - Wikipedia

 

also in Holidays & Observances -> First day of Spring | First day of Fall

Winter Solstice | Summer Solstice