By Eoin Meegan
There is one unavoidable ritual we must engage with now that October is here. No, I’m not talking about Halloween and getting dressed up in a freaky costume. I’m talking about the ritual of turning the clocks back one hour. But many question whether we should be observing this twice yearly custom at all. It all started in 1916 when Britain passed the Summer Time Act, thus leaving the mornings brighter which facilitated farmers and others who had to work early. Of course the downside being long dark winter nights. However, in an era before electricity, television and the internet, this probably didn’t bother people too much as they went to bed early. We live in a very different world now, where we rely less on natural light, so the biannual time change has become something of an awkward irrelevancy. It has lost its purpose and the sole reason for its survival is tradition.
In 2019 the European Parliament voted in favour of ending daylight saving time by 2021. However, for any legislation to pass both the Council and the Parliament must agree. The argument then arose as to which time zone we should keep, summer time or winter. It seemed people’s preference was split fairly evenly down the middle on that one. Then Covid came along and the whole thing was put on the back burner. Britain, now outside the EU, has no plans to change, so should Europe go ahead with abolishing daylight saving time it would cause headaches for us as it would mean two different time zones here in Ireland.
Now, there is another, more serious side to all this. Studies have shown that the reduced level of sunlight throws our body’s internal clock out of sync and may lead to an increase in depression or SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) with some studies pointing to a spike in suicides around this time of year. We’re not exactly sure why this is but it may be down to the decrease in serotonin. Serotonin is the body’s natural chemical which, along with dopamine, can induce feelings of happiness and positivity. When it’s dark the brain produces less serotonin, and more melatonin, the chemical that facilitates sleep. So we need to be mindful of this and look after our mental health. Do things that make you feel upbeat. There are many good courses and events happening during winter evenings, or schedule in a few shows to see. Also call in on a neighbour, especially anyone living alone, to make sure they’re coping. Irish people were always very good at that, looking after their neighbours, and I hope that’s one tradition that never dies out.
By the way if you have trouble remembering (as some people seem to have) whether the clocks go forward or back, a handy mnemonic is “spring forward and fall backwards”. As autumn is also known as Fall, this will ensure you never forget.
And speaking of that other major event at the end of the month, yes Halloween does beckon, and remember while you and I may love it our dogs don’t! So look after your animals and keep them indoors that night, and enjoy Halloween safely. And then come Sunday October 27th at 2 AM don’t forget to put your clocks back one hour. It’s officially winter!
