About Daylight Savings in the European Union

DESCRIPTION:

Daylight Savings in the European Union commences on the last Sunday of March (spring forward) and ends on the last Sunday of October (fall back). Russia, Iceland, and Belarus do not observe Daylight Savings, but Western Ukraine does. 

The saying, “spring forward, fall back,” is an excellent way to remember, and it works in the northern and southern hemispheres as the seasons reverse. Today, Europeans move the clock one hour back to 2 AM in October or one hour ahead in March at 2 AM on Sunday. 

American Benjamin Franklin was the first to propose daylight savings time (DST) in 1784, and modern DST commenced in 1895. Throughout history, several variations of daylight savings ranged from 30 minutes to two hours. 

Only some nations observe DST, which can make setting appointments very challenging. The primary purpose of DST is to make better use of daylight hours for farming, early morning activities (such as children walking to school in daylight rather than darkness), and saving energy. 

The closer one lives to the north and south poles, the longer the period of daylight in the summer months.  
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DAYLIGHT SAVINGS ABOVE THE EQUATOR

United Kingdom, Albania, Adorra, Austria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Guernsey, Holy See, Hungary, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Kosovo, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and Western Sahara—Last Sunday of March (spring forward) and the last Sunday of October (fall back). 

United States, Bahamas, Canada, Cuba, Saint Pierre & Miquelon—Second Sunday of March; first Sunday of November

Iran—Begins March 21/22; Ends September 20/21

Israel & Palestine—Friday before the last Sunday, March; last Sunday, October

Jordan, Syria— Last Friday, March; last Friday, October

Mexico—First Sunday, April; last Sunday, October
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DAYLIGHT SAVINGS BELOW THE EQUATOR

Australia—First Sunday of October (spring forward ); first Sunday in April (fall back).

Brazil—Third Sunday in October; third Sunday in February.

Chile—First Sunday in September; first Sunday in April

Fiji & Tonga—First Sunday of November; third Sunday of January.

Namibia—First Sunday of September; first Sunday of April.

New Zealand—Last Sunday of September; first Sunday of April. 

Paraguay—First Sunday of October; fourth Sunday of March.

Samoa—Last Sunday of September; first Sunday of April.