Daylight saving time is almost here — and it’s turning 100 years old

It survived the Great Depression, World War II, and endless gnashing of teeth about its good and bad points, and this month it celebrates its 100th birthday here in the U.S.

Daylight saving time, which starts its annual eight-month run at 2 a.m. Sunday, was first enacted by the federal government March 19, 1918, during World War I as a way to conserve coal. 

And though it was halted nationally later that year, it persisted in some form at local or state levels for decades before being finally being recognized again nationally in 1966 by the Uniform Time Act.

To many a minor annoyance or a bit of relief, daylight saving time reminds us of the sun’s daily influence on our lives and tells us spring is on its way.