Cyprus falls back to winter time

People will get an extra hour of sleep on Sunday morning, as clocks fall back to winter time Saturday after midnight marking the end of Daylight Saving Time possibly for the last time.

On Sunday, clocks will have to be moved back one hour at 4am, at which moment early Sunday time will shift backwards to 3am. People typically set their clocks before going to bed Saturday night in order to wake up with the new time in the morning.

The Daylight Saving Time (DST) has been a tradition observed by many countries around the world and all EU member states. However, recent debate coupled with the advent of new technology and global business practices, has caused confusion and changing clocks twice a year has become more of a nuisance for opponents of the DST.

Those in favour of keeping the DST practice include many Cypriots who argue that the island’s economy stands to benefit from an extra hour during the summer. A non-binding online referendum by the European Commission to assess the EU summertime directive was launched in July in an attempt to evaluate whether or not the rules should be changed.

A total of 4.6 million people responded, with 84% calling for an end to the DST practice, which goes back to agrarian times. If Brussels adopt the new rules, the Republic of Cyprus and all EU member states will have to decide by the end of April 2019 whether they wish to run on summer or winter time.

In other words, while Cypriots may spring forward next year to join summer time permanently, this Sunday maybe the last time ever they would fall back to winter time or gain an extra hour of sleep.