Spain will switch to winter time on 31 October

The change to winter time scheduled for October 2021 is approaching.

In the early morning of Sunday, October 31, it will be our turn to set the clocks back one hour to accommodate the change of season.

Spain is still enjoying temperatures more typical of the hot season, but those who get up early have already perceived that dawn takes longer to arrive. And in the evenings, it also gets dark earlier. That is due to still having daylight saving time.

On this occasion, the change will consist of setting the clocks back one hour during the early morning from Saturday to Sunday.

At 3:00 a.m. on Sunday 31 October, it will be 2:00 a.m. The Spanish residents will enjoy from that day with more light in the morning, but evenings will be even darker. In return, those who are partying on the night of the change will have one more hour to enjoy the party, without having to leave.

In Europe there are two time changes every year, both in winter and summer in order to save energy, standardized by the European Directive 200/84 CE. But this practice began in the early 70's, due to the oil crisis.

Ending seasonal time changes

In 2018, the European Commission proposed that the biannual clock changes would be abandoned across Europe in a harmonized manner. The Member States would remain free to decide nationally which time they want to adopt on a permanent basis.

In spring 2019, the European Parliament voted in favor of ending seasonal time changes. At the time, it proposed that clocks would be changed in 2021 for the last time.

At the moment, the Spanish Government has not yet made a decision on the matter and in the EU the matter has been put aside on the agenda to attend other major problems, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit.