Here in France, we set our clocks back one hour on Sunday. And you? Do you have a time change coming up? And how does it affect you, le changement d'heure? Share your thoughts in the comments at the end of this post.
TODAY'S WORD: le changement d'heure
: time change
heure d'été = daylight savings time, summer time
passer à l'heure d'hiver = to change to winter time
ECOUTEZ – Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce today's French word:Download Changement d'heure
Le changement d'heure. En France, nous avons fait le changement d'heure dimanche dernier. Et pour vous? Ce sera quand ce changement d'heure.
Time change. In France, we changed time last Sunday. And for you? When will you change time?
Try Pronounce it Perfectly in French or Exercises in French Phonetics
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
I was going to talk about politics today by reminding you to be extra careful with friendship over the upcoming election. I thought to tell you about how I lost what I thought was a solid friendship. I then realized that no matter how careful you are–going as far as to keep entirely quiet about your leanings–you can still find yourself the object of another's political ire, malgré vous!
(Read the bizarre "Ending of an Amitié" here).
But the past is the past! Let's move on while the clock it still ticking! And this brings us to today's topic: le changement d'horaire. Here in France we set our clocks back one hour, to l'heure d'hiver, on Sunday. I've never thought much about these forward and backward inchings of the small hand — apart from the shrug that comes when I realize I have to drive in the dark, now, to pick up my kids at the bus stop).
But our kids are all grown now. Would that I could shrug, once more, about picking them up in the dark!
And now that they are out of the house, I am noticing a few new quirks of this empty-nester. One, I now do laundry like a student–combining both lights and darks to make a full load. And, two, without a 6 a.m. wake-up call for the school run, I am now sleeping in. This makes me feel oh-so-coupable. Guilty, lazy, slovenly…
Until this week! With the changement d'heure, I am no longer that lazy loser who is just crawling out of bed at (I won't say!). This morning, while fixing coffee, I looked up at the clock (the red one my mother-in-law gave us…..)
And it read 6:50 a.m. (pay no attention to the hour displayed in the photo, above. The picture of our family clock was taken after my husband, on his way to his wine cellar to check on fermentation, said his infamous, "back in 5 minutes". This time we'd see about that!). (He made it back in 21 minutes. Not too bad.)
This week, with the time change, my self-esteem (or "amour-propre") is back intact! Looking at the clock above la machine à café, I see I am up and ready to seize the day…or to eventually seize my husband…if Monsieur Back in Five is 30 minutes late!
***
Thank you for reading. Let me know your thoughts about setting back the clock or altering the time. Anecdotes welcome. Extra credit for insights and history on the subject of le changment d'horaire! Find the comments link at the end of this post.
FRENCH VOCABULARY
malgré vous = in spite of yourself
amitié = friendship
l'heure d'hiver = winter time
coupable = guilty
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Kristi, I have a friend who is a psychiatrist and I told him about your dilemma about moving. He said any doctor should tell you do NOT do it now. Your husband has to get well here and not put any new pressures on him! It would be horrible if you back to the USA and things don’t go just easy and simple for you. Remember moving is right up there with a death in the family, a divorce and those 5 biggest stresses in your life. Certainly your husband’s illness is one of the biggest!!! Work on getting better here where he has friends and family. It was a point I hadn’t thought of and I just thought it would be good to pass it on. Best of luck!
I don’t mind the clock changing, but I wish someone would tell our golden retriever to sleep in!
It was hard when the kids were babies, though.
Bonjour! I am working on time with my first year French students and I would love to use the picture of the sundial in my presentation that would just be shown to my classes – not posted on the web anywhere. Might I have your permission to do that?
A teacher of the French language who loves reading about your life in France!
First of all,I completely agree with Allison.
Second, I don’t mind “falling back” with the time change but I despise “springing forward” in the Spring. I prefer to have daylight in the early AM hours and see absolutely no need to have daylight until 9:30 PM.
The time change is a real pet peeve of mine!
2 comments I always find the darkness at 4:30 pm “un peu déprimant.” I was in a store yesterday and saw a sign that said ” I apologize in advance for everything that I will say this winter”. Ah the joys of New England winters! Re: the political. I truly struggle with how to approach conversation with friends. You want to maintain friendships, but since this election is so night and day regarding what you want the future to be, how can you not say anything? In addition, who you vote for in this election is a window into your basic core values. Is it possible to be friends with someone who wants the country to be a very different place than you do? Let’s make America hate again.
Yes, bien sûr, Elizabeth!
I get depressed by the early dusk in winter and have to try harder to make sure I am outside as much as I can when it is light out. The minute I know the days are getting longer(Dec. 22?)I feel a weight lifting.I think,if you can arrange it, try to be related to at least one person who is clearly lovable and has opposite political views. I had a cousin like that and it was an unusual blessing! I just started my thoughts with I love her, she is smart, and we have more in common than not, and went from there. I could usually keep my patience.
Lastly, I appreciate Allison’s comment. I have a friend who has what he calls ABH, “Anywhere But Here” syndrome. He has moved from Massachusetts to Florida, back and forth several times, is considering Arizona and Hawaii constantly, and is not any happier after all the changes. Obviously his situation is his own, but I thought I would mention it.
Anne Lamott has a great essay about her feelings on the election and the anxiety leading up to it. I don’t know how to add it here.
Happy Friday to all!
Je deteste le changement de l’heure. C’est beaucoup mieux pour le bien- etre d’avoir le daylight savings time tout l’annee.
Please excuse any errors in my French. There seem to be enough studies indicating that both ‘spring forward’ and ‘fall back’ are bad for humans. Some jurisdictions retain DST year-round – thise people get light when they need it most.
As long as the clock keeps ticking, I can deal with any change!
You will too! Bonne journée!
<3
Hi Kristi,
I really do miss the long days and I start to feel tired when it gets dark around 4:30! I sometimes wonder whey we still change the clocks?!
Love the photo of the sundial and the trees covered in snow….this is November and it was 80 yesterday!
Kristin,
Your story about the changement d’heure couldn’t have come at a better time (pardon the pun), considering that my students are now learning how to tell time in French, both regular and 24 hour time. I’ll tell them about the changement d’heure when we meet next week. Merci!
Try not to think about it Just do it as I have no choice. There are more important decisions to be made that my thoughts will impact. Ditto Allison. Love all the time/clock pictures.
Bonjour! I’m a relatively recent reader (the past year) and this is my first post. Just a small nitpick: it would be “daylight saving (not savings) time”. It’s a change, not an investment. 😀
J’aime votre blogue, je lis heureusement ce reportage! (j’apprend la français depuis an un)
Aah, yes, the clocks go back one hour this Sunday. In autumn, I’m excited about the extra hour that we supposedly gain. I wake up at 5 a.m. and have been finding this routine a bit challenging as the nights get longer. Hopefully, the change will be good for me. Yet, I’m not too thrilled about driving from work in the dark to pick up the kids. Time is a curious concept.
I recently made a decision to take this November in stride. It’s my least favourite month of the year because in Ontario, it tends to be grey and rainy. Thus far, we’re off to a beautiful, sunny start, but regardless of the weather, I’m making the most of nature’s invitation to spend more time indoors, snuggling with the people I love, and cooking comforting soups and stews. 🙂
Well, Kristi, as you well know, Arizona has no daylight savings time, so all we have to remember is that daughter in Philly is one hour nearer and you???? Hmmm well it’s 8 or 9 hours, maybe 9 now? Oh dear! As for laundry and empty nests, I smile as I sort my whites and darks that shared the same tub. And, since it is already 3pm or 4pm in your part of the world I assume J-M has already been squeezed by you (and glad he didn’t spend longer watching fermentation). Bon chance a vous aujourdhui.
PS: If someone ends a friendship because of a political view differing from their own…..good riddance!
Kristi,
I have placemats of the same pattern as your clock. How would you translate the bottom line? It must be a common saying in France. Thank you.
I love the change in both seasons and have never understood the whining…it is all about embracing life as it is!
If we travel to France…..do we complain about having to change our watches. Non!!!!! We are happy to be alive and enjoying a new venue. So shall I when changing clocks on Sunday. I will resist the urge to keep translating the time by comparing it to what was. I do the same when I travel abroad. I set my watch once into flught to the destination time to fool my brain. It works. Also, not to keep saying…”Back home it is really 4:00 a.m.” STAYING IN THE PRESENT…IN THE NOW…IS ALWAYS BEST FOR BODY AND SOUL. ”
I hate it. It takes forever to change everything that has a clock attached to it these days. Some years I find things I forgot to change a month later even though I have a long list that I try to keep updated. And those items that are not intuitive to change are a real pain–who keeps instructions handy???? I wish everyone would just change by 30 minutes and leave it there.
Our dear Kristi,
THANK YOU for a bright spot to our day!
Once again (as always!) you give us inspiration to realize we all are in the same boat,rowing towards a hopefully happy existence together,(and maintaining sanity in the face of elections!)
Fingers crossed that this is not just a conte de fees!
I wish “they” would either change the time one way or the other and then leave it that way!
One year we had invited friends to dinner; they apparently had forgotten to reset their clocks and showed up an hour early.
I was still in my bathrobe(parboiling the Brussels Sprouts that was part of our entree)(you know the door they put out).Our lady friend was dolled up to kingdom come,reeking of perfume(maybe that was a good thing?)Luckily I had cleaned up our VERY messy house earlier.
We had a good laugh then,and still do now.
Only these days I ‘d just say come in,sit down,and wait till I finish getting dressed!
Love
Natalia. Xo
Hi, I normally dread the winter months and change of clock-time would send me into deep depression! But, I am not, not sure why. I have just somehow rolled into the different time with really little difference. I do miss the lovely sunny mornings but each day has a new challenge warm, chilly, rainy, cloudy, and just a change of season. Now I accept the seasoned time, change of attitude and enjoy living.
k, thanks for the information and adore the photos of the clocks.
I usually don’t like the “fall back” time change. Right now it will be welcome because I hate getting up in the dark to babysit my grandkids. What I really have a problem with is shorter days in general. So much I want to do outside and the daylight goes by too quickly. It makes me feel like I have less time for everything in general. I personally love daylight till 9:30 pm. I really depend on my “happy light” to get me through long stretches of cold grey rainy days.
This year I did “unfriend ” someone I really like because I just got tired of the long rants every single day in my Facebook feed. I think the US is so polarized anymore and it will always be that way. I feel so strongly about my views and for good reasons in my mind. I have a hard time understanding the opposite view but I respect the fact that those people with their opposing views feel as strongly as me and they have their reasons as well. I’m sure they won’t convince me and I won’t convince them either. I get frustrated that people get so volatile and make statements publicly implying that I and others who share my views must be really stupid if we feel that way. We all are entitled to our views and usually have good reasons to back them up. I try to stay out of the debate especially on social media because I have many “friends who have different views and I want to respect them. I will just be sure to vote my convictions and hope for the best and trust that God is in control Overall.
It looks like France will have a very interesting election next year as well. I had a good conversation with a French friend about it. What is the political climate in France given the issues there?
Hi Kristi,
Regards the daylight saving time… An old Arizona Indian said, “Only the government would believe that you could cut a foot off the top of a blanket and sew it on the bottom and have a longer blanket.”
Elizabeth – I, too, dread the winter months. I have a condition called S.A.D. which is caused by the short days. Luckily, light therapy done every morning works and the problem goes away about the middle of January here in Arizona.
I prefer the neutrality of, “Le Changement d’Heure,” since, by contrast, “Daylight Savings Time,” saves neither daylight nor time. Its introduction by Kaiser Wilhelm during WWI was probably intended to confuse the enemy, because that’s sure what it does to all of us today. End Le Changement d’Heure; let’s keep to the same time throughout the year.
As if we are voting on your choices, Kristi, I find I do NOT agree with Allison and Vicky and the wisely-cautious psychiatrist, given your situation. For Jean-Marc to linger in the environment that has brought his new insight and his sadness to the fore ‘until he is well’ seems to me contradictory and arbitrary unless his own intuition advises him to stay.
In my parallel case nearly four years ago, I trusted my own heart when it told me to make a big move. Even though others worried that it was a huge mistake for me, especially because of depression, and even though I did review my choice, I still sensed the rightness of taking the risk. That sense grew stronger, and faith carried me through. YES. It was worth it, utterly. Sometimes, an immense change is BETTER than a rest in nurturing recovery. Newness can be richly enlivening, and for it me it has been so. Whatever you and Jean-Marc decide to do will be right for you — this I believe with all my heart.
As for the time of day Falling Back — I love it! An extra hour of snooze is always great.
PS to my post here, Kristi. I too recently lost a longterm friendship when a dear person took exception to a generalized fb post on my page, one that she interpreted as critical of her political views. My post was not at all personal. Sigh: so it goes. I miss her. Yet even if she continues to loathe me once the dust has settled following next week’s election, so be it. I remain grateful for our long alliance, and will love her forever.
I love all the clocks you have photographed here .Clocks are fascinating I am the lucky owner of a Grand Father clock which I inherited from my Mum He was made in1750 & still keeps very good time chiming the hour & half hour A much loved member of my family .
I like the time of putting the clocks back . Another hour to snuggle down under the duvet ! But then again the summer time means longer evenings Never satisfied !
Kitty has a good point here . 21 years ago we sold up in the UK & moved to the Pyrénées to renovate an old agricultural barn .Family thought us to be mad ,but we have never regretted our new life
Whatever happens it will be for the best !
Allison and Kristi:
I’ve been reading your blog for a few years. Allison has summed up perfectly what I have been thinking about you and Jean-Marc moving to the U.S. It has been on my mind for a few weeks (you see how your readers love you!) but I did not think I could have formulated the comment Allison did so well! And she asked a friend who is a psychiatrist!! So my gut feeling was exactly what she says above, but I didn’t know how to say it. The reason I do feel strongly about this is: I was married to a Frenchman also 1990-2012. The first 5 years of our marriage we lived in Paris. In 1995, for a variety of reasons (both professional and personal) we moved to the U.S. NJ/PA area where I have family. It certainly was not an easy thing to do, but we didn’t have children to uproot or leave behind in France. Our marriage continued to be happy until about 2004, and eventually we divorced in 2012. I often believed during the years 1995-present that my ex-husband was/is depressed. As you know, being depressed puts a lot of stress on a marriage. And the change of country did not help. Was it the cause? Well it didn’t help in any case. My Parisian husband now has U.S. citizenship, a career in the U.S., a house, all the trappings of a normal U.S. life, but of course he misses France. But he would never go back as at his age (63) it would be impossible to “start over”. In fact he is nearing retirement age in the U.S. I still have dual citizenship of course, and love France as well as my native U.S.A. And I still miss France, although I have adapted better here. And of course my family is here. I could write reams and reams to you, Kristi, with my thoughts along these lines. But when I read Allison H’s comment. I thought: Please Listen to her and don’t jump the gun on this. Thanks for a great column – that is an understatement.. Yours most sincerely, Tracy Hart, Vero Beach, FL
Thank you so much Kristi for not going into politics. Your Blog is the bright part of my day as opposed to……
The time change doesn’t bother me unless I forget to change a clock and am late or really early for something. But I do like longer day light hours. In the winter when it gets dark so early, I feel like we should be eating dinner earlier, although I don’t want to eat at 6:00 or 7:00. I’d rather eat at 7:30. The early darkness plays havoc with my since of time. It is now 6:40 and completely dark and has been for a while…ugh.
Your posting of the clocks and the link to French clocks made me interested in maybe buying another one. I have two French looking clocks and love them. I love to hear the ticking, but most of the time it is just background noise. Talking about clocks made me reflect on the fact that there are some children today, actually many children today, who cannot read a clock with hands. They need digital clocks. So unfortunate. Just like students are not learning to write cursive anymore. They print their names.
Sorry for the digression, but that is a pet peeve of mine.
Kathleen
Oh my. There is a reason we cast a secret ballot, yes?
On the time change, I wish we would just leave time alone. I no longer see any reason why we need more daylight in summer when the days are longest anyway. The whole process plays havoc with our bodies,too. I wish we could just give it a permanent rest.
Kristi,
how about turning your villa into a “Bed and Breakfast” with you offering classes on gardening and your husband on wine-making? You two have such potential…you just need to find that special niche that launches you into financial and emotional security! I’m sure you inherited many of your mother’s traits, so don’t “jump ship” yet!
Love that Indian saying! That’s how I feel about the time change.
Love that Indian saying. Waking up in the dark is soooo hard, and we’re at that point now. All things considered, I think I like the time changes, but wish we would go back to six months on, six months off. Or we could all move to the equator, where I’ve heard day and night are equal all the time? Or would that get boring? Maybe I’ll try your light therapy, Herm.
Hi Kristi,
I don’t comment very often, but your question about daylight “savings” and what we think about it struck a very strong chord! I can’t stand it!! Why can’t “the powers that be” choose one way or another and then leave it alone! “Spring ahead” is so draining for me and “Fall behind” leaves me sluggish for days. I have had people say to me, “It’s just one day!” Well for me, it’s not just “one day.” Here is what a sleep disorder expert says about Daylight Savings: “Dr. Alon Y. Avidan, the director of the UCLA Sleep Disorders Center, says the fall time switch is certainly easier on the body than when we lose an hour of sleep each spring. But the shift still takes its toll, tinkering with the body’s delicate circadian rhythms, and that can lead to several days of feeling sluggish and less alert.”
So, a big NON from me for “le changement d’heure!” Tahiti doesn’t have it by the way. Wish I could move there. On a more positive note, I love your clock!
Dear Kristi,
I am not a big fan of artificial time change. I would rather leave nature alone. We just returned from a trip to your home state where were reminded that there is no time change! The beauty and serenity we experienced in Arizona refreshed our spirit…
Boy, do you get lonnnnng comments. How do you answer all? You are definitely NOT lazy, slovenly or other adjectives that do NOT pertain to you, Kristin. I hope he came back in time for…?
The only thing I like about going back to winter time is the extra hour’s sleep!
Bonjour Kristin. I don’t mind the spring change, but I don’t like the shortened daylight that we have in the late fall and winter. I love to be outside and this just “cramps my style”.
Your blog is wonderful and it keeps me connected to my French language. Thank you.
Faxine
Hi, Kristi –
I have a funny story about the time change. The last time I visited Paris was October 2013. About halfway through my week-long stay, I started noticing signs on the metro and little ads in the newspaper with a picture of a clock and the words “L’Heure d’Hiver” and whatever the date was for the time change.
I thought nothing of it, until finally the meaning started to sink in. It was time to change the clocks! And just one day before I was to fly home to Massachusetts! Oh là là ! I quickly consulted Monsieur Google and confirmed my suspicion. Major travel confusion averted.
All the best to you and Jean-Marc,
Maureen McCormick
Cambridge MA