If there’s one thing that marks the beginning of winter and the welcome of a new routine with less time in the sun, it’s Change in weather. The hands of the clock are moving for the second time this year, something that reopens the debate with arguments for and against a tradition that dates back to the First World War and whose purpose is to save energy.
This Sunday the second and final change to 2023 is made, something Spain has been doing since 1940 except for the period between 1950 and 1974 when it did not follow daylight saving time. Early Saturday morning when the clocks they are late one hour. This new reality has influenced the lifestyle of all Spaniards and that is why, even if Sunday has more time, every day until March 31 – when we are scheduled to return to the summer season in 2024 – days will be shorter and nights longer.
This biannual adjustment is not a welcome measure for everyone. A survey published by the Center for Sociological Research (CIS) revealed that only 22% of Spaniards would continue the change. The results are similar to a study carried out by the European Commission in which almost five million people living in the continent participated, showing that 84% of voters are in favor of not changing the time.
The European Commission has been trying since 2018 to end this change in time by delegating the power to each state to decide between one instance or another and whose decision is posted. 2021 was the initial deadline to make this change, but due to the lack of agreement, it has been postponed until a solution that suits all countries is found.
Spain will continue this change at least until 2026 as published in the Official State Gazette (BOE). The summer and winter seasons are a source of controversy, although many experts argue that the seasons that exist in countries such as Portugal or the United Kingdom should be continued, because the geographical location or lifestyle -influence the decision and the old factors may no longer have a place in a society that includes teleworking in its life with working hours that are very different from those of almost a hundred years ago.
