Daylight saving time affects almost 70 countries and affects the lives of millions of people. The introduction of this solution had primarily an economic dimension, although few people realize that it is a “joke” at its core.
See also: Change to summer time. In 2026, we will change our clocks earlier
As a reminder: the issue of changing time in Poland is regulated by the regulation of the Prime Minister, which concerns the introduction and cancellation of Central European summer time for the years 2022-2026.
This means that the question of when daylight saving time falls is random. However, the 2001 directive is in force throughout the European Union and defines common starting and ending dates for summer time.
When does the summer time change in 2026 in Poland – date, time and history
In Poland, the date for changing to summer time is not fixed. When daylight savings time occurs depends on the calendar layout. It always falls on the last Sunday in March. This year, the change to summer time falls on the night of March 28-29, from 2.00 to 3.00.
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Regardless of your opinion on the validity of the time change, most Poles have already gotten used to it. However, few of us are aware of when this unique energy saving method was first introduced.
Where did the change to summer time come from?
As PolskieRadio24.pl reminds us, the ancient Egyptians and Romans tried to adapt the calendar to the cycle of nature. In winter, an hour lasted about 45 minutes, in summer even 70 minutes. The Romans divided the day into different parts than today to make better use of daylight.
See also: What about the abolition of time change? The work is stuck
However, it was not until the Industrial Revolution that time became a commodity – it began to be measured precisely to increase work efficiency, but also to allow for savings in times of shortages. In the 18th century, Benjamin Franklin devoted his article “Benjamin Franklin's Essay on Daylight Saving” to this issue.
It is worth mentioning that the publication from 1784 was satirical in nature, although it dealt with methods of saving candles at night and making full use of daylight from the very sunrise.
Change to summer time. Franklin's “Joke” and butterflies in New Zealand
In the above-mentioned article, the American philosopher and scientist suggested, among other things, that candle rationing should be introduced and people should be forced to wake up at dawn with the roar of cannons.
Franklin cited the example of the people of Paris who could save 96 million pounds sterling by using less candles between March 20 and September 20. Franklin's joke – although in the form of an article – did not gain much attention.
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It was only a hundred years later – in 1895, to be precise – that New Zealand entomologist George Hudson proposed an official time change to make better use of daylight.
The British William Willet, who promoted the idea of changing to summer time, had a similar opinion. In 1907, he pushed his idea in the British Parliament and argued that the action would save over 2 million pounds.
Change to summer time in Poland. I appear and disappear
The scientists' demands were taken seriously only during World War I. In Germany and Austria-Hungary, it was decided to change the time for a prosaic reason: to save coal. These two countries were soon joined by other countries, although daylight saving time ended with the end of the war.
See also: When does the time change. Experts: more harm than good
As the PolskieRadio24.pl website reminds, in 1940, Nazi Germany restored summer time in its country and occupied territories. It was introduced in Poland until 1949, after which it was withdrawn. In the times of the Polish People's Republic, in 1957, time change returned for some time, only to be withdrawn again in 1964. Ultimately, time change has been in force in Poland since 1977.
In 2019, the European Parliament approved a plan to end the time change, but work on it has stalled. Although the majority of EU citizens supported the abolition of time change, the lack of agreement between countries prevents the introduction of uniform rules. Each country has different needs and preferences, and official time remains a tool of power influencing social and economic life.
