Kesäajan

Kesäaika, commonly translated as daylight saving time, is the practice of advancing clocks by one hour in spring and returning them by one hour in autumn to extend evening daylight. In Finnish usage, the term kesäaika refers to the period and the clock changes, and the genitive form kesäajan is used in phrases such as “kesäajan muutokset.” In Finland, kesäaika moves between standard time (EET, UTC+2) in winter and daylight time (EEST, UTC+3) in summer. The transitions occur on the last Sunday of March and the last Sunday of October.

The concept originated in the early 20th century and has since been adopted by most European countries, including Finland, to better align daily activities with daylight hours and, it is argued, to reduce energy consumption. The practice is coordinated across the European Union to maintain synchronized clock changes among member states.

Public discussion about kesäaika centers on its benefits and drawbacks. Proponents point to longer evening daylight, potential reductions in energy use, and opportunities for outdoor activities after work or school. Critics highlight sleep disruption, health concerns, and the administrative burden of changing schedules for transportation, broadcasting, and business operations. Some sectors report challenges with scheduling across time zones.

As of now, Finland continues to observe kesäaika under current EU rules, while broader EU discussions consider the future of seasonal clock changes. The exact policy may evolve, but the biannual time shift remains the standard practice in Finland today.