Daylight Saving Ends: A Threshold Between Dog and Wolf
As daylight saving time ends tomorrow—Sunday, November 2, 2025—millions across the U.S. will gain an extra hour of sleep. But beyond the clock change lies something deeper: a psychological and emotional shift as daylight recedes and twilight lingers longer.
The French call it “l’heure entre chien et loup”—the hour between dog and wolf. It’s that ambiguous twilight when the sky can’t decide between blue and black, and you might mistake safety for danger. This liminal time, both destabilizing and clarifying, marks the true onset of fall’s introspective mood.
Why Shorter Days Feel So Disorienting
Research shows that the end of daylight saving time correlates with:
- Increased evening car accidents due to sudden darkness
- Disrupted circadian rhythms
- Higher rates of seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
Yet, not everyone dreads the change. For some, like the author’s friend Leigh, it’s a “license to hunker”—a cultural permission slip to slow down, light candles, and enjoy cozy evenings without guilt.
Kairos vs. Chronos: Finding Meaning Beyond the Clock
Ancient Greeks distinguished between two kinds of time:
| Time Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Chronos | Linear, measurable clock time—the hour we gain this weekend |
| Kairos | The opportune, sacred moment—like a child at play or friends sharing dinner |
In a world obsessed with productivity and schedules (chronos), the darker months invite us to notice kairos—those fleeting, meaningful moments that can’t be scheduled but must be seized.
How to Thrive in the Dimming Light
Experts and cultural observers suggest:
- Lean into ritual: Light a candle at dusk, brew herbal tea, or start a nightly journal.
- Maximize morning light: Open curtains immediately upon waking to reset your circadian rhythm.
- Reframe the season: Instead of mourning lost daylight, view winter as a time for reflection, creativity, and connection.
As author Madeleine L’Engle wrote, kairos appears when we’re present: “The saint in prayer, friends around the dinner table, the mother reaching out her arms for her newborn baby are in kairos.”
Cultural Shifts in a Darker Season
This weekend’s time change coincides with broader cultural rhythms:
- The release of Lily Allen’s raw divorce album West End Girl, described as “a royal tour of marital wreckage”
- World Series Game 7 between the Dodgers and Blue Jays—a high-stakes moment of athletic kairos
- Museum exhibitions celebrating introspective artists like Monet, who painted relentlessly even on vacation
Perhaps the shorter days aren’t a loss—but an invitation.
