diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9f88248..b8da506 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -192,6 +192,18 @@ You can replace the title of your site in the top left corner of each page with
 ```
 
 
+### Localize date format
+
+Dates of blog posts and single pages are rendered with the default date format commonly used in the USA and Canada. It is possible to specify a different format.
+
+```
+[params]
+  date_format = "2. January 2006"
+```
+
+See hugo's documentation of the [`dateFormat` function](https://gohugo.io/functions/dateformat/) for more details.
+
+
 ### Nearly finished
 
 In order to see your site in action, run Hugo's built-in local server.
diff --git a/layouts/_default/single.html b/layouts/_default/single.html
index 0c7b97b..fe2c3b3 100755
--- a/layouts/_default/single.html
+++ b/layouts/_default/single.html
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
       {{/* Hugo uses Go's date formatting is set by example. Here are two formats */}}
       {{ if not .Date.IsZero }}
       <time class="f6 mv4 dib tracked" {{ printf `datetime="%s"` (.Date.Format "2006-01-02T15:04:05Z07:00") | safeHTMLAttr }}>
-        {{- .Date.Format "January 2, 2006" -}}
+        {{- .Date.Format (default "January 2, 2006" .Site.Params.date_format) -}}
       </time>
       {{end}}
 
diff --git a/layouts/post/summary.html b/layouts/post/summary.html
index b2779cf..5856b4a 100644
--- a/layouts/post/summary.html
+++ b/layouts/post/summary.html
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
   <div class="mb3 pa4 mid-gray overflow-hidden">
     {{ if .Date }}
       <div class="f6">
-        {{ .Date.Format "January 2, 2006" }}
+        {{ .Date.Format (default "January 2, 2006" .Site.Params.date_format) }}
       </div>
     {{ end }}
     <h1 class="f3 near-black">