As of dawn on Sunday, March 30, 2025, Greece will once again switch to daylight saving time, moving the clocks forward by one hour.
At 03:00, time will jump to 04:00, marking the annual adjustment that signals longer daylight hours but also a lost hour of sleep.
The Origins of Daylight Saving Time
The practice of adjusting clocks for daylight saving time began as a way to optimize daylight use during summer and reduce energy consumption. In the wake of the 1973 energy crisis, many European nations, including Greece, adopted the measure to conserve electricity.
Since 1996, the European Union has maintained a standardised regulation, requiring all member states to set their clocks forward one hour in the spring and back one hour in the autumn. However, not all European countries follow this rule. Iceland has never implemented daylight saving time, while Belarus discontinued time changes after 2011, opting to remain permanently on UTC +3, following Russia‘s lead in time adjustments.
A Decision Postponed Indefinitely
In 2019, the European Parliament voted in favour of abolishing the seasonal time change, originally planning to implement the measure by 2021. However, a series of political and global crises—including Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ongoing war in Ukraine—caused delays. Rising energy prices across Europe have also complicated discussions on whether permanent daylight saving time would be beneficial. Some experts argue that keeping summer time year-round could save energy, while others dispute its effectiveness.
Which Devices Update Automatically?
As time changes occur, most modern internet-connected devices—such as smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, and computers—will automatically adjust. However, it is advisable to verify the update and manually adjust non-digital timepieces, such as wall clocks and traditional wristwatches.
For now, Greece and much of Europe continue the biannual clock change, awaiting a final decision on whether this long-standing tradition will eventually be abolished.
