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5 myths about the clocks going back and the facts behind them

Part of Other Side of the Story

A teal coloured alarm clock surrounded by pumpkins

When did the clocks go back?

On Sunday 29th October, the clocks moved back by one hour, marking the annual move from British Summer Time (BST) back to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

It’s a very old tradition, dating back to 1916, but over the years, and especially in recent times on social media, there have been numerous myths and rumours surrounding the reasons why.

Does it make mornings darker? Is it only done in the UK? And What on earth does it have to do with Coldplay’s Chris Martin?

A teal coloured alarm clock surrounded by pumpkins

Myths about the clocks going back

1. The clocks going back makes mornings darker - FALSE
Two tweets claiming that the clocks going back will lead to darker mornings.
Taken from X

It actually does the opposite! The days get shorter and darker in the Winter, so when we turn the clocks back, we don’t have to wait as long for the daylight in the morning.

2. Clocks used to go two hours ahead of GMT instead of one - TRUE
A tweet saying that in Summer during World War 2 clocks went 2 hours ahead - Known as British Double Summer Time
Taken from X

While this may sound absurd, it’s actually true. During World War Two, Britain created British Double Summer Time.

This meant that, during spring, clocks moved two hours ahead of GMT as opposed to one.

This began in 1941 and ended in 1945, though it did make a brief reappearance in the summer of 1947 due to severe fuel shortages. By extending daylight hours in the evening, it meant less fuel needed to be used on lighting during the day.

3. Daylight saving only happens in the UK - FALSE
A tweet complaining about changing the clocks forward/back on the basis no other countries do it
Taken from X

There are actually 70 countries across the world who use clock changes, including New Zealand, Paraguay, all 27 EU countries, and the USA (though not in Hawaii and most of Arizona).

4. Daylight saving was proposed in the UK by Chris Martin's great-great-grandfather - TRUE
Two tweets about the fact that daylight saving time 'invented' daylight saving time
Taken from X

In the UK, the first serious proposal about Daylight Saving Time came in 1907 from builder William Willet… who also happens to be the great-great-grandfather of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin!

5. We change our clocks because of farmers - FALSE
Two tweets blaming farmers for the changing of the clocks
Taken from X
A farmer walking through a field to a tractor at sunset

While this is a widely spread idea about the reason for the clocks changing, it’s actually false.

William Willet put forward the suggestion of moving the clocks forward during summertime (before being returned to normal in the winter) as a way to avoid the waste of additional daylight in the evenings.

The act was passed in British parliament (shortly after being passed in Germany) during World War One, as a way to conserve energy by taking advantage of the increased daylight.

A farmer walking through a field to a tractor at sunset
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