Daylight Saving Time Starts in Gibraltar

Daylight Saving Time (DST) in Gibraltar typically begins at 1:00 AM on the last Sunday of March. At this time, clocks are turned forward by one hour to 2:00 AM, effectively shifting an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening. This transition is rooted in efforts to make better use of daylight during the longer days of summer and to conserve energy.

History

The concept of DST was first proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1784 but was not widely adopted until World War I and II as a measure to save fuel. In more recent times, the European Union, which Gibraltar was a part of until Brexit, standardized the start and end dates of DST across member countries.

Traditions

There are no specific traditions associated with the start of DST in Gibraltar. It is generally observed as a practical change rather than a cultural event.

What People Do

On this day, residents and businesses adjust their clocks before going to bed on Saturday night. While most modern devices automatically update, manual adjustments are necessary for analog clocks and some older digital models. People may take advantage of the later sunset times for outdoor activities or enjoy evening events that benefit from additional daylight. It's also common for discussions about the merits or drawbacks of DST to resurface around this time.

Public awareness campaigns often remind people about the upcoming switch to DST, sometimes linking it with reminders to perform safety checks or maintenance tasks such as replacing batteries in smoke detectors. Some individuals might experience minor disruptions in their sleep patterns or daily routines due to the time change.