THE clocks will go forward around the world tonight as daylight saving time (DST) begins.
In Spain, the clocks will change in the wee hours of Sunday, March 30, when 2am will become 3am.
The Canary Islands is an hour behind the rest of the country, meaning 1am will become 2am. DST will remain in effect until October 26.
It comes as the EU continues to debate whether to scrap DST altogether.
The European Parliament voted to stop DST in 2019, with a view that it would come into force in 2026.
However, the EU Council has yet to make a final decision on the move, which it must do for it to come into effect.
In 1940, Spanish dictator General Franco adopted DST to ensure his country was aligned with Nazi Germany and the countries of Central Europe.
But in 2018, a poll by the European Commission found that 93% of Spaniards supported scrapping daylight saving time, much higher than the EU average of 84%.
DST is hugely unpopular in Spain because it creates very late sunsets which can disrupt people’s sleeping patterns.
Locals find their daily activities are also disrupted, with their late dinners (usually around 9pm), often still taking place in sunlight.
Like many other countries, people report feeling a noticeable ‘shift’ during DST, causing mood swings and increased stress levels.
Spaniards also doubt the alleged economic benefits of DST, including more daylight hours for shopping or tourists.
