Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 8th - a Lesson in Time and Remembering to Spring Ahead
Posted: Sunday, March 01, 2009
by Teresa Ortiz
Freelance writer/Speaker
Is it really that time again? Whose idea was it anyway? These are questions I asked when I was reminded by a friend that we are only a week away from gaining another hour of sunlight--and losing an hour of sleep, I might add. Maybe it was just a joke--a reason to make a churchgoer like me an hour late for church. Probably not, but until I took some time to investigate, it seemed the only reasonable explanation to me.
Following are a few historical facts regarding the United States standardizing of time, and who is responsible for the idea of DST. I found these facts interesting, perhaps you will as well.
Prior to November 18, 1883, there wasn't a standardized time between the United States and Canada. This proved to complicate matters as it concerned the railways as time was considered to be a local issue and was implemented by using various forms of solar time.
William Lambert, an amateur astronomer, was the first American to recognize the need for time standardization. In 1809, he made a recommendation to Congress to establish time meridians. They rejected his recommendation. Years later--1870, to be exact, Charles Dowd made a similar suggestion. Again, they rejected the idea. However, after revising his proposal in 1872, the U.S. and Canadian railways accepted the idea of Standardizing time and in 1883, the idea became a reality. These initial time zone meridians were used for scheduling by the railways.
It wasn't until 1884, that Sandord Fleming, a Canadian civil and railway engineer, was able to convince others at the International Prime Meridian Conference in Washington, that there should be a system of International standard time. The IPMC adopted this plan and it is the system used to this day.
Going back in time 100 years (1784), history says Benjamin Franklin was the first person to consider the idea of DST, during his time in Paris as an American Delegate. This information is found in his essay, "An Economical Project".
It wasn't until William Willett, a London builder mentioned this idea in more serious tone in his pamphlet, "Waste of Daylight" in 1907, that it was implemented. It is said that while on an early morning walk, he said it was a waste of daylight as he noticed that many homes had the shades drawn even though the sun had risen. As a result, he proposed moving clocks ahead 20 minutes every Sunday during the month of April, and then later reducing time in the same manner in the month of September.
Since then, the actual date and time change of DST varies per country. Not all states in the U.S. participate in DST, but for those that do, 2:00am was chosen to minimized disruption in daily routines. It makes sense to me, but personally, I have made it a habit to change the clocks at night before I go to bed. This way, I won't be late (or early) for church.
This twice a year ritual is also a great time to change the batteries in the smoke detectors throughout our homes.
Thank you for joining me on this little journey through time. The real excitement comes in finding creative ways to make up for an hour of lost time. Use your imagination, and remember to move your clock ahead at 2:00am, Sunday, March 8th.
Hey, if I go to sleep an hour early on Saturday the 7th, will it mean I won't lose an hour of sleep?
(c) Teresa Ortiz 2009
Some very interesting info. We change all the batteries in the clocks along with the smoke detectors. Thanks for enlightening me. Linda D.Hi Linda,Art is good at remembering to change the batteries too. Thanks for reading. It was interesting investigating this stuff. I learned a few things :-)God bless you! Teresa
Teresa, no, if you go to bed and hour early, you STILL loose an hour of sleep depending on the way you look at it....hahahahahahah I love the end when you asked that question..."Hey, if I go to sleep an hour early on Saturday the 7th, will it mean I won't lose an hour of sleep"? Although a good thought...depends on how you look at it....you still loose!! hahahahaha Interesting facts about DST, we in Arizona don't participate in it however, we stay the same time year around....its easier on our clocks, and our brains not to have to be reminded of it, twice a year...and I like it that way. Great article, and very well researched, and (in a whispering voice), I never knew those facts until now) but don't tell anybody okay? Great read....Your fan and friend in pen.....Gary.Hi Gary, ha! It is wierd the whole time change thing. I wish we left it alone. I had fun researching this, it is all new to me too!thanks again for reading! Have a wonderful week!
Hi Teresa.I'm with Gary; I like that we do not change our clocks. Why the Navajos on their Rez follow DST, I can't imagine.I like William Willet's idea. When Bernd and I were still living in SoCal, I hated the time change. It threw off my internal clock for weeks afterward and always made me cranky. A gradual change seems so much more polite.Anyway, thanks for all the info. It was fun.Hugs,DianneHi Dianne, I hate the time change too! I wish Oregon was like Arizona! I had fun researching this info. We live in such a spoiled time. I don't know what I would have done if I would have to rely on the sun to tell me the time :-)Thank you for reading and for the comment. Hugs to you!
Teresa,There is no way around it. You will lose an hour; however, because I get up at 5:00 am every day, I don't find the loss as difficult. Matters not if I sleep till 6! I love DST though because it means I'm yet closer to Spring and my garden.Thank you for an informative, interesting article. Well done!NancyHi Nancy, thanks for reading. I knew that I would be a loser either way, but I figured if I asked the outcome might be different :-) Oh well, thanks for bursting my bubble. ((big smiles))I hate the inconvenience, but I must admit, I love it when it is light until 10 at night and I am looking forward to that!Blessings to you! Teresa
Thanks for the fun info, Teresa. And most of all, the news. I was clueless...lost in my own world.
A happy blessed day to ya, Sistah T!
Love,
meHey "me" :-)How are ya today? Thanks for reading. Mark your calendar girlie, wouldn' want you late for church. ha!I was thinking of you this past sunday, did you give the Amazing Race a try? It was so good!Have a good one!love,Sistah T
I think if you go to sleep an hour earlier you'll lose an hour of "wake," not sleep!But, working the night shift is interesting during the time changes. Our shifts are 12 hours long so when we "fall back" we work 13 hours and get paid for 13 hours. Springing forward we work 11 hours, but still get paid for 12!!How about that?Lots of history in this piece and I love history. Awesome stuff!!Ha, no matter what an hour is asta-la-bye, bye. Works out pretty good for you though :-)
