Daylight saving time begins Mar 9, 2025

It"s the time of year again when clocks spring forward, stealing an hour of sleep but giving us longer evenings to enjoy. Daylight saving time (DST) starts today at 2 AM, except in Arizona and Hawaii, reminding us that time, quite literally, waits for no one. The idea is simple: maximizing daylight and reducing energy consumption by syncing our activities with the natural light cycle. This concept was popularized by Benjamin Franklin in the 18th century, though his suggestion to "save candles" was more satirical than a serious proposal. Fast-forward to the early 20th century, when many countries adopted DST to conserve fuel during wartime. The US officially standardized it in 1966 with the Uniform Time Act. Today, DST runs from March to November in around 70 countries, giving eight months of extended evening light.

© scaliger/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Mar 9, 2018The Door County Coastal Byway in Wisconsin
Mar 9, 2019Let the harvest begin
Mar 9, 2020This grizzly has Napping Day down
Mar 9, 2021Spring comes to the Diablo foothills
Mar 9, 2022Flower of Life symbol drawn in snow
Mar 9, 2023Waimea Canyon and Waipoo Falls, Kauai, Hawaii
Mar 9, 2024Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, New Mexico
Mar 9, 2026Gray seal sleeping on the beach, Orkney Islands, Scotland

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Aug 12, 2025World Elephant Day
Dec 11, 2023International Mountain Day
Sep 24, 2020Till the cows come home
Jan 15, 2025Anniversary of the British Museum
Oct 19, 2021These laurels are hardy
Aug 20, 2020Up in the Highlands
Nov 22, 2025Leshan Giant Buddha, Sichuan, China
Feb 17, 2022Flamenco dancers
Jul 3, 2024World Meerkat Day
Jun 16, 2018Drop in on International Surfing Day
Mar 29, 2020The borrowed days are here
May 16, 2020Let s run em up!
Mar 3, 2018Celebrating World Wildlife Day
Apr 18, 2022Square Tower House in Mesa Verde National Park
Oct 9, 2020Falling for Tennessee
Nov 24, 2019Autumn in the cypress swamp
Dec 18, 2025Celebrating 54 years of Capitol Reef National Park
Nov 25, 2022Native American Heritage Day
Apr 28, 2025Impala in Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
May 11, 2024World Migratory Bird Day
Oct 30, 2022Polar Bear Week
Feb 10, 2026Es Vedrà and Es Vedranell, Ibiza, Spain
Dec 22, 2025The Nutcracker performed by the Turkish State Opera and Ballet in Türkiye
Aug 24, 2024Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument anniversary
Jan 27, 2025Zoroaster Temple, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Dec 5, 2024Tufa formations in Mono Lake, California
Mar 7, 2026The Brocken, Harz National Park, Germany
Apr 13, 2025Songkran—Thai New Year
Nov 30, 2025Christmas market in Leipzig, Germany
Jul 22, 2020Wildebeest on the move