Daylight saving time ends this year on Sunday, November 1, and that means one question is back in every kitchen and group chat: why do we even change the clocks? On today’s Lucia Vane podcast, Lucia sits down with a guest who takes the clock change very personally. Slick the raccoon, star of the Heritage Hollow mysteries, is up all night for a living, and he wants to know who keeps moving his night around.
What’s Inside
Why Do We Change the Clocks for Daylight Saving Time?
Lucia keeps it simple. Daylight saving time ends at 2:00 a.m. on the first Sunday of November, so in 2026 that is Sunday, November 1. At that moment, 2:00 a.m. becomes 1:00 a.m. again, and most of the country “falls back” one hour. Slick’s reaction is pure raccoon: if one o’clock happens twice, he can eat the same midnight snack two times.
The rules come from the federal government, and the official timekeepers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) lay them out plainly. Daylight saving time starts on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November. In between, clocks run an hour ahead so there is more light in the evening.
3 Daylight Saving Time Facts From the Episode
The episode packs in three quick facts. Each one comes from the NIST daylight saving time rules page:
- It started in 1918. The United States first used daylight saving time more than a hundred years ago. Slick figures his great-great-great-grandpa was already confused about it.
- Today’s dates began in 2007. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 moved the start and end dates, and the stated goal was to save energy.
- Not everyone switches. Hawaii and most of Arizona keep the same time all year, along with several U.S. territories. Slick is ready to pack the snacks and move to Hawaii.
Mornings vs. Evenings: Both Sides of the Clock Change
Is falling back good or bad? Lucia’s honest answer is that people disagree, and that is fine. Some people love brighter mornings in the fall, because it is easier to wake up and get the kids out the door. Others miss the long, sunny evenings that daylight saving time brings in summer. The show doesn’t pick a side; it just lays out both so you can decide for yourself.
Slick has his own angle on the debate. Last year he showed up to the trash cans an hour early. Nobody was there. Just him, and a very judgy cat.
Lucia’s Tip for Your Bonus Hour
Lucia ends with one easy, practical tip. On Saturday night, set your clocks back before bed, then go to sleep at your normal time. That way you wake up rested and really get to enjoy the bonus hour, instead of losing it to a confusing morning. Slick plans to use his to plan his next adventure.
Meet Slick From The Vanishing Trail
Slick is one half of the raccoon detective team in the Heritage Hollow Adventures by Margaret “Maggie” Fenwick. In The Vanishing Trail, Book 3, he and his sister Muffin follow a trail that keeps disappearing, with a wolf watching from the hill. It is a gentle mystery solved with clues, patience and real outdoor skills, written for readers ages 9 to 12. Get The Vanishing Trail on Amazon.
Love a good clock puzzle? The raccoons untangle twelve mismatched clocks in The Mansion’s Missing Hours, and new readers can start at the very beginning with Book 1, The Map of Heritage Hollow.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does daylight saving time end in 2026?
Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 2:00 a.m. local time. Clocks fall back one hour to 1:00 a.m.
Why do we change the clocks?
The current dates were set by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which took effect in 2007, with the goal of saving energy. The idea is to shift daylight toward the evening during the longer days of the year.
Which states don’t observe daylight saving time?
Hawaii and most of Arizona stay on standard time all year, as do American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Navajo Nation in Arizona does observe it.
Who is Lucia Vane?
Lucia Vane is the host of a short, funny podcast from Choice1-3D. Each episode tackles an everyday question with real facts, a neutral take on both sides, and a guest from the Choice1-3D books.
Is this episode okay for kids?
Yes. It is clean, family-friendly and features Slick from the Heritage Hollow books for ages 9 to 12.
Read the Heritage Hollow Series
Slick and Muffin have solved a whole shelf of gentle mysteries. Catch up on every case:
Ready for the trail? Get The Vanishing Trail on Amazon, then come back every weekday at noon for a new Lucia Vane episode.
