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Which Countries Put the Clocks Back?
In the UK, our clocks went back one hour over the last weekend in October, which means we have nowreturned to Greenwich Mean Time. But if you are considering moving abroad, is this something you still need to consider?
East Anglia removal firm Hamiltons Removals can help with commercial and domestic moves to all parts of the globe. Here we look at the history of Daylight Saving, which other countries put the clocks back (and which don’t) – and how we can help you move to all parts of the world, no matter which time system the country has adopted.
The History of Daylight Saving
British Summer Time, which is also known as Daylight Saving Time, was originally the brainchild of a Kent builder called William Willett, who noticed in the early 1900s that many of daylight hours were effectively being wasted during the summer, because people were still asleep even though the sun was out. He enlisted the support of his MP, but efforts to bring in a new time law were unsuccessful.
It took the onset of the First World War for the idea to be rekindled, thanks to the need to conserve coal and to make the most of the available sunshine. The Summer Time Act was passed in May 1916, and has largely remained in place ever since.
There were brief spells during the Second World War when the clocks went back (and forwards) by two hours rather than one, and between 1968-71 when the clocks went forward but didn’t go back (in an experiment known as British Standard Time). This was soon discontinued, largely because in the north of England and in Scotland the sun didn’t rise until well into the morning – leaving children walking to school in the dark.
Since then, the UK has stuck with putting the clocks forward in spring, and back in the autumn, although there have been occasional attempts to bring in a new system. The arguments in favour still evolve around saving energy (oil as well as coal) and making better use of the available sunlight; those against this system point out that sleep patterns are usually disrupted when the clocks are adjusted, as well as the inconvenience of having to reset your clocks.
What About the Rest of the World?
If you are considering domestic or commercial removals to Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, Latin America, Brazil and the Caribbean, then most of these countries still adjust their clocks for Daylight Saving (although not necessarily on the same days as the UK, and not necessarily by an hour at a time).
The European countries that don’t follow Daylight Saving are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Iceland, Russia and Turkey. In the USA, the clocks don’t go back in Hawaii and most of Arizona, while in Australia the practice is not observed in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia – but it is in the rest of the respective countries.
Some countries used to change their clocks but no longer do, including Brazil, Hong Kong and Mexico. Egypt dropped Daylight Saving but restored it in 2023. Most countries in the continents of Asia and Africa don’t use Daylight Saving either – many of them are so close to the Equator they get plenty of sunshine, so there is no need to adjust the clocks during the darker months of the year.
Moving Overseas with East Anglian Removals Firm Hamiltons Removals
Whether you want to move to Europe or further afield, Hamiltons Removals should be able to help. For more information about our European or our international destinations, click here; we also offer video surveys and online quotations to make the whole process easier for you, the customer.
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