Yes, people, it is Daylight Saving’s Time Eve, the time when most of us change our clocks.  What does it mean?  It means, among other things, that we are required to meet at 2am for a mandatory swap meet in which we trade clocks with our neighbors.

The “clock swap” (or, as they call it in the Northeast Kingdom, “That thar clocker swapper thingamajig”) is a long-standing tradition in Vermont, one which is particularly popular in an election year.  

The ceremony (which is simpler today than it was a century ago, given that most clocks back then were large enough that they were often used to hide contraband from the feds, and sometimes could double as life rafts in emergency situations) involves neighbors coming together, trading clocks and then usually ends in a brawl when one person accuses another of being a socialist.

The above, of course, is only part of the story.  The original purpose of Daylight Savings time was that it was originally devised as a method for one time zone to catch up with another.  It began with California, worried it was an hour behind Arizona, enacting Daylight Savings time to catch up.  Of course, the entire West coast had to follow suit, causing Mountain time to do the same, worried that “Those Coastal folks are nippin’ at our heels!”  Then, of course, Central Time and then Eastern Time came around as well.  The measures passed easily in most areas after the “Our Hours Are Ours!” campaign, which not only rallied citizens and legislators alike, it also left several town criers with PTSD, which in those days was called “clock shock.”

It took some states longer than others– Indiana still hasn’t caught up with the rest of the Midwest and Arizona, Georgia and Alabama remain at least two decades behind the rest of the country, at least on some levels.  But, overall, the Domino effect played out simply and effectively.  

Of course, there has always been controversy about Daylight Savings Time.  While Democrats believe it is an outdated sign of old rivalries and conflicts which are no longer needed, Republicans have repeatedly attempted to enact legislation which will set the clocks back to 1952.

I hope this simple post has helped enlighten those of you who feel it unnecessary to honor Daylight Saving’s Time and that you enjoy this year’s swap meet, at least, you know, until the fisticuffs begin.