It’s slowly getting lighter outside. The time change is coming up. when are the clocks adjusted? Tonight it’s finally time. When exactly? Do you put the clock forward or backward? Can you sleep longer or is the night getting shorter?
Spring has officially arrived and the days are gradually getting warmer and longer. Summer time is not long in coming. As in every six months, the question arises as to when the clock will be changed.
The next clock change is tonight, from Saturday March 25th to Sunday March 26th from 2am to 3am.
Basically, the time is always changed in the last week of March and the last week of October. At the beginning of summer time there is one hour less sleep. The clock goes forward one hour on Saturday. Summer time is officially referred to as “Central European Summer Time” (“CEST”). This “stolen” hour will be played back on Sunday, October 29, 2023, when the clocks will then revert to standard time.
All information also as video:
Time change – start of daylight saving time: Date 2023
Pictures say more than 1000 words. This graphic explains the time change very simply: When changing to summer time, the clock is put forward (yellow), when changing to winter time, it is put back again (blue):
Is the clock changed? Not many like that
The majority of users on the web have little good to say or write about the time change. But some take it with humor:
Time change: List of all clocks and devices that need to be set
With most modern watches, you no longer have to do anything yourself. The time change is usually automatic on a smartphone, PC or smartwatch. Here is an overview of clocks or technical devices with an integrated clock that may have to be changed manually. You can either open this article on your mobile phone and work through all the points, or you can use this checklist as a Download PDF file here and print it out.
Normally, every radio clock should change over automatically. Or?
Living room
- TV
- receivers
- Blu-ray/DVD player
- weather station
- wall clock
Kitchen
- oven
- microwave
- fully automatic coffee machine
- wall clock
Electronic devices, Miscellaneous
- Wristwatch / pocket watch
- MP3 player
- radio
- stereo system
- Answering machine
- home phone
- fax
- Alarm clock
- digital camera
- camcorder
- Fitness tracker, heart rate monitor
- Medical devices (e.g. blood pressure monitor)
House technic
- thermostat
- Heating
- timer
- alarm system
- motion detector
- Lighting (timed systems)
- Garden irrigation (timed systems)
mobility
- car radio
- motorcycle (clock)
- navigation systems
- bike computer
- Fitness tracker, heart rate monitor
Smartphone and PC users don’t have to worry about the time change: The digital clocks of Android, iOS and Windows usually change automatically – provided you have chosen the right setting.
Polls: This is what Germans think about the time change
According to most surveys, the majority of Germans find that the time change is rather pointless, unnecessary or even harmful to their health. Many complain about restlessness and sleep problems, are even irritated after the time change. Statista also paints a similar picture of the (non-)sense of the time change. What do you think about that?
The ZDF Politbarometer asked the following question in a survey: “If the time change is abolished, would you like summer time all year round or winter time all year round?” The answers show that the majority of those surveyed are in favor of keeping summer time permanently – should the time change be ever be abolished.
Time change: what is it good for?
The colloquial “winter time” is actually the “normal time”. In March, the clock is switched to “Central European Summer Time” to save on energy costs. Nowadays, however, the changeover is criticized in many places as unnecessary. The aim when introducing the time change was to make better use of the bright daylight in order to save on energy costs and resources for the production of artificial light. In addition, it is easier to sleep in the additional hour in the dark. The main reasons for the time change were the oil crises of 1973 and 1979/1980.
The first time the clock was changed was during the First World War on April 30, 1916 in the German Empire, Austria-Hungary and Great Britain. This should increase the period of usable daylight. After the end of World War I, however, the first phase was suspended. It wasn’t until 1975 that most of the countries of the European Union followed suit and introduced daylight saving time. The plans were implemented in 1977. Better use of energy was also a priority here. Since 1996 the clock in the EU has been changed uniformly. Germany is one of over 60 countries that put the clock forward or backward. However, the time change is often criticized and perceived as nonsensical. Many no longer see the time change as an opportunity to save energy and see the time change as a historical relic.
When will the time change finally be abolished?
After a 2018 conducted EU-wide survey on time change the abolition in the EU was under scrutiny. Actually the European Parliament then voted in favor of abolishing the time change from 2021. So far, however, there are no implementation plans. The member states of the EU can decide for themselves whether they want to live permanently in summer or winter time if the time change is abolished. According to the latest information, there is a problem with the “agreements between the member countries”. Ultimately, the aim is to prevent a patchwork of different time zones in Europe. The changeover will therefore not be abolished in 2023 and Also for 2024 there are no signs that anything will change.
when are the clocks adjusted? Sayings to remember – forward or backward?
If you are faced with the question “When does the clock change?” every six months, there are a few mnemonics and mnemonics that you can use to remember whether an hour is going forward or backward:
- In summer the clock is put forward (both with “o”), in winter behind.
- In summer, cafés put tables “in front” of the door. In winter they are “put back” in the shop.
- In winter there are minus temperatures, so the clock is turned back. In summer, when the temperature is above zero, the time is put forward.
- In summer you can take a step forward outside as it is warmer. In winter you take a step back into the home as it gets colder again.
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