Sommartiden slut!

The Garden Furniture Rule: A Swedish Mnemonic for Daylight Saving Time

Every year in Sweden, the same confusion arises: should we move the clock forward or backward when the time switches between standard time and daylight saving time? As Sylvia Svensson shares in her well-known tip:

Den eviga förvirringen om man ska flytta klockan fram eller tillbaka inträffar också i denna veva.

Jag har sedan många år ett bra knep:

När sommartiden börjar på våren, då ska trädgårdsmöblerna FRAM. Liksom klockan!

När sommartiden slutar på hösten, så ställer man trädgårdsmöblerna TILLBAKA! Så även klockan!

Så enkelt är det!

How the Rule Works

This simple, memorable rule—known to many as the garden furniture rule—serves as a practical mnemonic for remembering which direction to adjust the clocks each spring and autumn.

Spring: Move Forward

When daylight saving time begins in the spring, you move your garden furniture forward ("fram")—and you do the same with your clock, setting it forward by one hour.

Autumn: Move Back

In contrast, when daylight saving time ends in the autumn, you move your outdoor furniture back ("tillbaka"), just as you set your clock back by one hour.

Why This Association Works

This association works because it aligns with a natural, seasonal habit: many Swedes bring out their garden furniture when the weather gets warmer in the spring and put it back into storage as winter approaches. By linking this annual routine with the clock change, it becomes much easier to remember what to do—no need to recall confusing rules or specific dates.

Is the Rule Still Relevant?

Despite ongoing discussions in the EU about possibly ending the time change, this routine remains current and useful in Sweden. So next time the clocks are due for a shift, just think of your garden furniture: if it’s time to bring it out, move the clock forward; if you’re putting it away, move the clock back. Så enkelt är det!