I always thought that Daylight Savings Time was created to benefit farmers by giving them an extra hour of daylight to work their fields. Turns out this is a myth.
The change can be traced back to 1918 when entomologist George Hudson, who loved to collect insects after work, suggested introducing two extra hours of daylight in summer.
In 1907, a British resident by the name of William Willett presented the idea as a way to save energy. It was not implemented at that time.
Daylight Savings Time was adopted in Ontario, Canada in 1908, in German Austria Hungary in 1916 and finally in the United States in 1918, signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson. The rationale was that it would reduce fuel consumption, but that belief is still fraught with controversy. An undisputed benefit of DST, at least as far as I’m concerned, is time to spend outdoors in the evenings. Children have more time to play, adults have more time to walk, bike, swim, and participate in other leisure activities.
The idea of abolishing the time change altogether has been presented to Congress but from what I understand it won’t be adopted soon. I just hope that if it’s abolished we will keep the extra hour of daylight, not lose it.
Michelle Lawson is a seasoned web producer and content manager. She has 8 years experience and expertise in content management systems, branding, project management, writing, and delivering impactful web solutions that enhance brand visibility. She is currently seeking her next opportunity.