diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/assets.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/assets.py
index cd59b811d7..dd96cd213a 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/assets.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/assets.py
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@ from xmodule.contentstore.django import contentstore
 from xmodule.modulestore.django import modulestore
 from xmodule.modulestore import Location
 from xmodule.contentstore.content import StaticContent
-from xmodule.util.date_utils import get_default_time_display
 from xmodule.modulestore import InvalidLocationError
 from xmodule.exceptions import NotFoundError
 from django.core.exceptions import PermissionDenied
 from xmodule.modulestore.django import loc_mapper
 from xmodule.modulestore.locator import BlockUsageLocator
 
+from util.date_utils import get_default_time_display
 from util.json_request import JsonResponse
 from django.http import HttpResponseNotFound
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _
diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/component.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/component.py
index 8c1bcb7a9d..7b8eb5b252 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/component.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/component.py
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ from django.conf import settings
 from xmodule.modulestore.exceptions import ItemNotFoundError
 from edxmako.shortcuts import render_to_response
 
+from util.date_utils import get_default_time_display
 from xmodule.modulestore.django import modulestore
-from xmodule.util.date_utils import get_default_time_display
 from xmodule.modulestore.django import loc_mapper
 from xmodule.modulestore.locator import BlockUsageLocator
 
diff --git a/cms/templates/edit_subsection.html b/cms/templates/edit_subsection.html
index be4c042bc7..4103c0752b 100644
--- a/cms/templates/edit_subsection.html
+++ b/cms/templates/edit_subsection.html
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <%inherit file="base.html" />
 <%!
   import logging
-  from xmodule.util.date_utils import get_default_time_display, almost_same_datetime
+  from util.date_utils import get_default_time_display, almost_same_datetime
   from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _
   from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 %>
diff --git a/cms/templates/overview.html b/cms/templates/overview.html
index e7aa8da9ad..dc74f5c799 100644
--- a/cms/templates/overview.html
+++ b/cms/templates/overview.html
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <%inherit file="base.html" />
 <%!
   import logging
-  from xmodule.util import date_utils
+  from util.date_utils import get_default_time_display
   from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _
   from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
   from xmodule.modulestore.django import loc_mapper
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ require(["domReady!", "jquery", "js/models/location", "js/models/section", "js/v
                             <a href="#" class="edit-release-date action" data-date="" data-time="" data-locator="${section_locator}"><i class="icon-time"></i> <span class="sr">${_("Schedule")}</span></a>
                           %else:
                             <span class="published-status"><strong>${_("Release date:")}</strong>
-                            ${date_utils.get_default_time_display(section.start)}</span>
+                            ${get_default_time_display(section.start)}</span>
                             <a href="#" class="edit-release-date action" data-date="${start_date_str}" data-time="${start_time_str}" data-locator="${section_locator}"><i class="icon-time"></i> <span class="sr">${_("Edit section release date")}</span></a>
                           %endif
                         </div>
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py b/common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..11ca25d087
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,373 @@
+"""
+Convenience methods for working with datetime objects
+"""
+
+from datetime import timedelta
+import re
+
+from pytz import timezone, UTC, UnknownTimeZoneError
+from django.utils.translation import pgettext, ugettext
+
+
+def get_default_time_display(dtime):
+    """
+    Converts a datetime to a string representation. This is the default
+    representation used in Studio and LMS.
+
+    It will use the "DATE_TIME" format in the current language, if provided,
+    or defaults to "Apr 09, 2013 at 16:00 UTC".
+
+    If None is passed in for dt, an empty string will be returned.
+
+    """
+    if dtime is None:
+        return u""
+    if dtime.tzinfo is not None:
+        try:
+            timezone = u" " + dtime.tzinfo.tzname(dtime)
+        except NotImplementedError:
+            timezone = dtime.strftime('%z')
+    else:
+        timezone = u" UTC"
+
+    localized = strftime_localized(dtime, "DATE_TIME")
+    return (localized + timezone).strip()
+
+
+def get_time_display(dtime, format_string=None, coerce_tz=None):
+    """
+    Converts a datetime to a string representation.
+
+    If None is passed in for dt, an empty string will be returned.
+
+    If the format_string is None, or if format_string is improperly
+    formatted, this method will return the value from `get_default_time_display`.
+
+    Coerces aware datetime to tz=coerce_tz if set. coerce_tz should be a pytz timezone string
+    like "US/Pacific", or None
+
+    format_string should be a unicode string that is a valid argument for datetime's strftime method.
+    """
+    if dtime is not None and dtime.tzinfo is not None and coerce_tz:
+        try:
+            to_tz = timezone(coerce_tz)
+        except UnknownTimeZoneError:
+            to_tz = UTC
+        dtime = to_tz.normalize(dtime.astimezone(to_tz))
+    if dtime is None or format_string is None:
+        return get_default_time_display(dtime)
+    try:
+        return unicode(strftime_localized(dtime, format_string))
+    except ValueError:
+        return get_default_time_display(dtime)
+
+
+def almost_same_datetime(dt1, dt2, allowed_delta=timedelta(minutes=1)):
+    """
+    Returns true if these are w/in a minute of each other. (in case secs saved to db
+    or timezone aren't same)
+
+    :param dt1:
+    :param dt2:
+    """
+    return abs(dt1 - dt2) < allowed_delta
+
+
+DEFAULT_SHORT_DATE_FORMAT = "%b %d, %Y"
+DEFAULT_LONG_DATE_FORMAT = "%A, %B %d, %Y"
+DEFAULT_TIME_FORMAT = "%I:%M:%S %p"
+DEFAULT_DATE_TIME_FORMAT = "%b %d, %Y at %H:%M"
+
+
+def strftime_localized(dtime, format):      # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin
+    """
+    Format a datetime, just like the built-in strftime, but with localized words.
+
+    The format string can also be one of:
+
+    * "SHORT_DATE" for a date in brief form, localized.
+
+    * "LONG_DATE" for a longer form of date, localized.
+
+    * "DATE_TIME" for a date and time together, localized.
+
+    * "TIME" for just the time, localized.
+
+    The localization is based on the current language Django is using for the
+    request.  The exact format strings used for each of the names above is
+    determined by the translator for each language.
+
+    Args:
+        dtime (datetime): The datetime value to format.
+
+        format (str): The format string to use, as specified by
+            :ref:`datetime.strftime`.
+
+    Returns:
+        A unicode string with the formatted datetime.
+
+    """
+
+    if format == "SHORT_DATE":
+        format = "%x"
+    elif format == "LONG_DATE":
+        # Translators: the translation for "LONG_DATE_FORMAT" must be a format
+        # string for formatting dates in a long form.  For example, the
+        # American English form is "%A, %B %d %Y".
+        # See http://strftime.org for details.
+        format = ugettext("LONG_DATE_FORMAT")
+        if format == "LONG_DATE_FORMAT":
+            format = DEFAULT_LONG_DATE_FORMAT
+    elif format == "DATE_TIME":
+        # Translators: the translation for "DATE_TIME_FORMAT" must be a format
+        # string for formatting dates with times.  For example, the American
+        # English form is "%b %d, %Y at %H:%M".
+        # See http://strftime.org for details.
+        format = ugettext("DATE_TIME_FORMAT")
+        if format == "DATE_TIME_FORMAT":
+            format = DEFAULT_DATE_TIME_FORMAT
+    elif format == "TIME":
+        format = "%X"
+
+    def process_percent_code(match):
+        """
+        Convert one percent-prefixed code in the format string.
+
+        Called by re.sub just below.
+
+        """
+        code = match.group()
+        if code == "%":
+            # This only happens if the string ends with a %, which is not legal.
+            raise ValueError("strftime format ends with raw %")
+
+        if code == "%a":
+            part = pgettext('abbreviated weekday name', WEEKDAYS_ABBREVIATED[dtime.weekday()])
+        elif code == "%A":
+            part = pgettext('weekday name', WEEKDAYS[dtime.weekday()])
+        elif code == "%b":
+            part = pgettext('abbreviated month name', MONTHS_ABBREVIATED[dtime.month])
+        elif code == "%B":
+            part = pgettext('month name', MONTHS[dtime.month])
+        elif code == "%p":
+            part = pgettext('am/pm indicator', AM_PM[dtime.hour // 12])
+        elif code == "%x":
+            # Get the localized short date format, and recurse.
+            # Translators: the translation for "SHORT_DATE_FORMAT" must be a
+            # format string for formatting dates in a brief form.  For example,
+            # the American English form is "%b %d %Y".
+            # See http://strftime.org for details.
+            actual_format = ugettext("SHORT_DATE_FORMAT")
+            if actual_format == "SHORT_DATE_FORMAT":
+                actual_format = DEFAULT_SHORT_DATE_FORMAT
+            if "%x" in actual_format:
+                # Prevent infinite accidental recursion.
+                actual_format = DEFAULT_SHORT_DATE_FORMAT
+            part = strftime_localized(dtime, actual_format)
+        elif code == "%X":
+            # Get the localized time format, and recurse.
+            # Translators: the translation for "TIME_FORMAT" must be a format
+            # string for formatting times.  For example, the American English
+            # form is "%H:%M:%S". See http://strftime.org for details.
+            actual_format = ugettext("TIME_FORMAT")
+            if actual_format == "TIME_FORMAT":
+                actual_format = DEFAULT_TIME_FORMAT
+            if "%X" in actual_format:
+                # Prevent infinite accidental recursion.
+                actual_format = DEFAULT_TIME_FORMAT
+            part = strftime_localized(dtime, actual_format)
+        else:
+            # All the other format codes: just let built-in strftime take
+            # care of them.
+            part = dtime.strftime(code)
+
+        return part
+
+    formatted_date = re.sub(r"%.|%", process_percent_code, format)
+    return formatted_date
+
+
+# In order to extract the strings below, we have to mark them with pgettext.
+# But we'll do the actual pgettext later, so use a no-op for now, and save the
+# real pgettext so we can assign it back to the global name later.
+real_pgettext = pgettext
+pgettext = lambda context, text: text       # pylint: disable=invalid-name
+
+AM_PM = {
+    # Translators: This is an AM/PM indicator for displaying times.  It is
+    # used for the %p directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org
+    # for details.
+    0: pgettext('am/pm indicator', 'AM'),
+    # Translators: This is an AM/PM indicator for displaying times.  It is
+    # used for the %p directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org
+    # for details.
+    1: pgettext('am/pm indicator', 'PM'),
+}
+
+WEEKDAYS = {
+    # Translators: this is a weekday name that will be used when displaying
+    # dates, as in "Monday Februrary 10, 2014". It is used for the %A
+    # directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    0: pgettext('weekday name', 'Monday'),
+    # Translators: this is a weekday name that will be used when displaying
+    # dates, as in "Tuesday Februrary 11, 2014". It is used for the %A
+    # directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    1: pgettext('weekday name', 'Tuesday'),
+    # Translators: this is a weekday name that will be used when displaying
+    # dates, as in "Wednesday Februrary 12, 2014". It is used for the %A
+    # directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    2: pgettext('weekday name', 'Wednesday'),
+    # Translators: this is a weekday name that will be used when displaying
+    # dates, as in "Thursday Februrary 13, 2014". It is used for the %A
+    # directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    3: pgettext('weekday name', 'Thursday'),
+    # Translators: this is a weekday name that will be used when displaying
+    # dates, as in "Friday Februrary 14, 2014". It is used for the %A
+    # directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    4: pgettext('weekday name', 'Friday'),
+    # Translators: this is a weekday name that will be used when displaying
+    # dates, as in "Saturday Februrary 15, 2014". It is used for the %A
+    # directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    5: pgettext('weekday name', 'Saturday'),
+    # Translators: this is a weekday name that will be used when displaying
+    # dates, as in "Sunday Februrary 16, 2014". It is used for the %A
+    # directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    6: pgettext('weekday name', 'Sunday'),
+}
+
+WEEKDAYS_ABBREVIATED = {
+    # Translators: this is an abbreviated weekday name that will be used when
+    # displaying dates, as in "Mon Feb 10, 2014". It is used for the %a
+    # directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    0: pgettext('abbreviated weekday name', 'Mon'),
+    # Translators: this is an abbreviated weekday name that will be used when
+    # displaying dates, as in "Tue Feb 11, 2014". It is used for the %a
+    # directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    1: pgettext('abbreviated weekday name', 'Tue'),
+    # Translators: this is an abbreviated weekday name that will be used when
+    # displaying dates, as in "Wed Feb 12, 2014". It is used for the %a
+    # directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    2: pgettext('abbreviated weekday name', 'Wed'),
+    # Translators: this is an abbreviated weekday name that will be used when
+    # displaying dates, as in "Thu Feb 13, 2014". It is used for the %a
+    # directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    3: pgettext('abbreviated weekday name', 'Thu'),
+    # Translators: this is an abbreviated weekday name that will be used when
+    # displaying dates, as in "Fri Feb 14, 2014". It is used for the %a
+    # directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    4: pgettext('abbreviated weekday name', 'Fri'),
+    # Translators: this is an abbreviated weekday name that will be used when
+    # displaying dates, as in "Sat Feb 15, 2014". It is used for the %a
+    # directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    5: pgettext('abbreviated weekday name', 'Sat'),
+    # Translators: this is an abbreviated weekday name that will be used when
+    # displaying dates, as in "Sun Feb 16, 2014". It is used for the %a
+    # directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    6: pgettext('abbreviated weekday name', 'Sun'),
+}
+
+MONTHS_ABBREVIATED = {
+    # Translators: this is an abbreviated month name that will be used when
+    # displaying dates, as in "Jan 10, 2014". It is used for the %b
+    # directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    1: pgettext('abbreviated month name', 'Jan'),
+    # Translators: this is an abbreviated month name that will be used when
+    # displaying dates, as in "Feb 10, 2014". It is used for the %b
+    # directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    2: pgettext('abbreviated month name', 'Feb'),
+    # Translators: this is an abbreviated month name that will be used when
+    # displaying dates, as in "Mar 10, 2014". It is used for the %b
+    # directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    3: pgettext('abbreviated month name', 'Mar'),
+    # Translators: this is an abbreviated month name that will be used when
+    # displaying dates, as in "Apr 10, 2014". It is used for the %b
+    # directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    4: pgettext('abbreviated month name', 'Apr'),
+    # Translators: this is an abbreviated month name that will be used when
+    # displaying dates, as in "May 10, 2014". It is used for the %b
+    # directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    5: pgettext('abbreviated month name', 'May'),
+    # Translators: this is an abbreviated month name that will be used when
+    # displaying dates, as in "Jun 10, 2014". It is used for the %b
+    # directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    6: pgettext('abbreviated month name', 'Jun'),
+    # Translators: this is an abbreviated month name that will be used when
+    # displaying dates, as in "Jul 10, 2014". It is used for the %b
+    # directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    7: pgettext('abbreviated month name', 'Jul'),
+    # Translators: this is an abbreviated month name that will be used when
+    # displaying dates, as in "Aug 10, 2014". It is used for the %b
+    # directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    8: pgettext('abbreviated month name', 'Aug'),
+    # Translators: this is an abbreviated month name that will be used when
+    # displaying dates, as in "Sep 10, 2014". It is used for the %b
+    # directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    9: pgettext('abbreviated month name', 'Sep'),
+    # Translators: this is an abbreviated month name that will be used when
+    # displaying dates, as in "Oct 10, 2014". It is used for the %b
+    # directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    10: pgettext('abbreviated month name', 'Oct'),
+    # Translators: this is an abbreviated month name that will be used when
+    # displaying dates, as in "Nov 10, 2014". It is used for the %b
+    # directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    11: pgettext('abbreviated month name', 'Nov'),
+    # Translators: this is an abbreviated month name that will be used when
+    # displaying dates, as in "Dec 10, 2014". It is used for the %b
+    # directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    12: pgettext('abbreviated month name', 'Dec'),
+}
+
+MONTHS = {
+    # Translators: this is a month name that will be used when displaying
+    # dates, as in "January 10, 2014". It is used for the %B directive in
+    # date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    1: pgettext('month name', 'January'),
+    # Translators: this is a month name that will be used when displaying
+    # dates, as in "February 10, 2014". It is used for the %B directive in
+    # date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    2: pgettext('month name', 'February'),
+    # Translators: this is a month name that will be used when displaying
+    # dates, as in "March 10, 2014". It is used for the %B directive in
+    # date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    3: pgettext('month name', 'March'),
+    # Translators: this is a month name that will be used when displaying
+    # dates, as in "April 10, 2014". It is used for the %B directive in
+    # date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    4: pgettext('month name', 'April'),
+    # Translators: this is a month name that will be used when displaying
+    # dates, as in "May 10, 2014". It is used for the %B directive in
+    # date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    5: pgettext('month name', 'May'),
+    # Translators: this is a month name that will be used when displaying
+    # dates, as in "June 10, 2014". It is used for the %B directive in
+    # date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    6: pgettext('month name', 'June'),
+    # Translators: this is a month name that will be used when displaying
+    # dates, as in "July 10, 2014". It is used for the %B directive in
+    # date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    7: pgettext('month name', 'July'),
+    # Translators: this is a month name that will be used when displaying
+    # dates, as in "August 10, 2014". It is used for the %B directive in
+    # date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    8: pgettext('month name', 'August'),
+    # Translators: this is a month name that will be used when displaying
+    # dates, as in "September 10, 2014". It is used for the %B directive in
+    # date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    9: pgettext('month name', 'September'),
+    # Translators: this is a month name that will be used when displaying
+    # dates, as in "October 10, 2014". It is used for the %B directive in
+    # date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    10: pgettext('month name', 'October'),
+    # Translators: this is a month name that will be used when displaying
+    # dates, as in "November 10, 2014". It is used for the %B directive in
+    # date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    11: pgettext('month name', 'November'),
+    # Translators: this is a month name that will be used when displaying
+    # dates, as in "December 10, 2014". It is used for the %B directive in
+    # date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+    12: pgettext('month name', 'December'),
+}
+
+# Now that we are done defining constants, we have to restore the real pgettext
+# so that the functions in this module will have the right definition.
+pgettext = real_pgettext
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/util/tests/test_date_utils.py b/common/djangoapps/util/tests/test_date_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9dddd46456
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/djangoapps/util/tests/test_date_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,221 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+"""
+Tests for util.date_utils
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timedelta, tzinfo
+from functools import partial
+import unittest
+
+import ddt
+from mock import patch
+from nose.tools import assert_equals, assert_false  # pylint: disable=E0611
+from pytz import UTC
+
+from util.date_utils import (
+    get_default_time_display, get_time_display, almost_same_datetime,
+    strftime_localized,
+)
+
+
+def test_get_default_time_display():
+    assert_equals("", get_default_time_display(None))
+    test_time = datetime(1992, 3, 12, 15, 3, 30, tzinfo=UTC)
+    assert_equals(
+        "Mar 12, 1992 at 15:03 UTC",
+        get_default_time_display(test_time))
+
+
+def test_get_dflt_time_disp_notz():
+    test_time = datetime(1992, 3, 12, 15, 3, 30)
+    assert_equals(
+        "Mar 12, 1992 at 15:03 UTC",
+        get_default_time_display(test_time))
+
+
+def test_get_time_disp_ret_empty():
+    assert_equals("", get_time_display(None))
+    test_time = datetime(1992, 3, 12, 15, 3, 30, tzinfo=UTC)
+    assert_equals("", get_time_display(test_time, ""))
+
+
+def test_get_time_display():
+    test_time = datetime(1992, 3, 12, 15, 3, 30, tzinfo=UTC)
+    assert_equals("dummy text", get_time_display(test_time, 'dummy text'))
+    assert_equals("Mar 12 1992", get_time_display(test_time, '%b %d %Y'))
+    assert_equals("Mar 12 1992 UTC", get_time_display(test_time, '%b %d %Y %Z'))
+    assert_equals("Mar 12 15:03", get_time_display(test_time, '%b %d %H:%M'))
+
+
+def test_get_time_pass_through():
+    test_time = datetime(1992, 3, 12, 15, 3, 30, tzinfo=UTC)
+    assert_equals("Mar 12, 1992 at 15:03 UTC", get_time_display(test_time))
+    assert_equals("Mar 12, 1992 at 15:03 UTC", get_time_display(test_time, None))
+    assert_equals("Mar 12, 1992 at 15:03 UTC", get_time_display(test_time, "%"))
+
+
+def test_get_time_display_coerce():
+    test_time_standard = datetime(1992, 1, 12, 15, 3, 30, tzinfo=UTC)
+    test_time_daylight = datetime(1992, 7, 12, 15, 3, 30, tzinfo=UTC)
+    assert_equals("Jan 12, 1992 at 07:03 PST",
+                  get_time_display(test_time_standard, None, coerce_tz="US/Pacific"))
+    assert_equals("Jan 12, 1992 at 15:03 UTC",
+                  get_time_display(test_time_standard, None, coerce_tz="NONEXISTENTTZ"))
+    assert_equals("Jan 12 07:03",
+                  get_time_display(test_time_standard, '%b %d %H:%M', coerce_tz="US/Pacific"))
+    assert_equals("Jul 12, 1992 at 08:03 PDT",
+                  get_time_display(test_time_daylight, None, coerce_tz="US/Pacific"))
+    assert_equals("Jul 12, 1992 at 15:03 UTC",
+                  get_time_display(test_time_daylight, None, coerce_tz="NONEXISTENTTZ"))
+    assert_equals("Jul 12 08:03",
+                  get_time_display(test_time_daylight, '%b %d %H:%M', coerce_tz="US/Pacific"))
+
+
+# pylint: disable=W0232
+class NamelessTZ(tzinfo):
+    """Static timezone for testing"""
+
+    def utcoffset(self, _dt):
+        return timedelta(hours=-3)
+
+    def dst(self, _dt):
+        return timedelta(0)
+
+
+def test_get_default_time_display_no_tzname():
+    assert_equals("", get_default_time_display(None))
+    test_time = datetime(1992, 3, 12, 15, 3, 30, tzinfo=NamelessTZ())
+    assert_equals(
+        "Mar 12, 1992 at 15:03-0300",
+        get_default_time_display(test_time))
+
+
+def test_almost_same_datetime():
+    assert almost_same_datetime(
+        datetime(2013, 5, 3, 10, 20, 30),
+        datetime(2013, 5, 3, 10, 21, 29)
+    )
+
+    assert almost_same_datetime(
+        datetime(2013, 5, 3, 11, 20, 30),
+        datetime(2013, 5, 3, 10, 21, 29),
+        timedelta(hours=1)
+    )
+
+    assert_false(
+        almost_same_datetime(
+            datetime(2013, 5, 3, 11, 20, 30),
+            datetime(2013, 5, 3, 10, 21, 29)
+        )
+    )
+
+    assert_false(
+        almost_same_datetime(
+            datetime(2013, 5, 3, 11, 20, 30),
+            datetime(2013, 5, 3, 10, 21, 29),
+            timedelta(minutes=10)
+        )
+    )
+
+
+def fake_ugettext(text, translations):
+    """
+    A fake implementation of ugettext, for testing.
+    """
+    return translations.get(text, text)
+
+
+def fake_pgettext(context, text, translations):
+    """
+    A fake implementation of pgettext, for testing.
+    """
+    return translations.get((context, text), text)
+
+
+@ddt.ddt
+class StrftimeLocalizedTest(unittest.TestCase):
+    """
+    Tests for strftime_localized.
+    """
+    @ddt.data(
+        ("%Y", "2013"),
+        ("%m/%d/%y", "02/14/13"),
+        ("hello", "hello"),
+        (u'%Y년 %m월 %d일', u"2013년 02월 14일"),
+        ("%a, %b %d, %Y", "Thu, Feb 14, 2013"),
+        ("%I:%M:%S %p", "04:41:17 PM"),
+    )
+    def test_usual_strftime_behavior(self, (fmt, expected)):
+        dtime = datetime(2013, 02, 14, 16, 41, 17)
+        self.assertEqual(expected, strftime_localized(dtime, fmt))
+        # strftime doesn't like Unicode, so do the work in UTF8.
+        self.assertEqual(expected, dtime.strftime(fmt.encode('utf8')).decode('utf8'))
+
+    @ddt.data(
+        ("SHORT_DATE", "Feb 14, 2013"),
+        ("LONG_DATE", "Thursday, February 14, 2013"),
+        ("TIME", "04:41:17 PM"),
+        ("%x %X!", "Feb 14, 2013 04:41:17 PM!"),
+    )
+    def test_shortcuts(self, (fmt, expected)):
+        dtime = datetime(2013, 02, 14, 16, 41, 17)
+        self.assertEqual(expected, strftime_localized(dtime, fmt))
+
+    @patch('util.date_utils.pgettext', partial(fake_pgettext, translations={
+        ("abbreviated month name", "Feb"): "XXfebXX",
+        ("month name", "February"): "XXfebruaryXX",
+        ("abbreviated weekday name", "Thu"): "XXthuXX",
+        ("weekday name", "Thursday"): "XXthursdayXX",
+        ("am/pm indicator", "PM"): "XXpmXX",
+    }))
+    @ddt.data(
+        ("SHORT_DATE", "XXfebXX 14, 2013"),
+        ("LONG_DATE", "XXthursdayXX, XXfebruaryXX 14, 2013"),
+        ("DATE_TIME", "XXfebXX 14, 2013 at 16:41"),
+        ("TIME", "04:41:17 XXpmXX"),
+        ("%x %X!", "XXfebXX 14, 2013 04:41:17 XXpmXX!"),
+    )
+    def test_translated_words(self, (fmt, expected)):
+        dtime = datetime(2013, 02, 14, 16, 41, 17)
+        self.assertEqual(expected, strftime_localized(dtime, fmt))
+
+    @patch('util.date_utils.ugettext', partial(fake_ugettext, translations={
+        "SHORT_DATE_FORMAT": "date(%Y.%m.%d)",
+        "LONG_DATE_FORMAT": "date(%A.%Y.%B.%d)",
+        "DATE_TIME_FORMAT": "date(%Y.%m.%d@%H.%M)",
+        "TIME_FORMAT": "%Hh.%Mm.%Ss",
+    }))
+    @ddt.data(
+        ("SHORT_DATE", "date(2013.02.14)"),
+        ("Look: %x", "Look: date(2013.02.14)"),
+        ("LONG_DATE", "date(Thursday.2013.February.14)"),
+        ("DATE_TIME", "date(2013.02.14@16.41)"),
+        ("TIME", "16h.41m.17s"),
+        ("The time is: %X", "The time is: 16h.41m.17s"),
+        ("%x %X", "date(2013.02.14) 16h.41m.17s"),
+    )
+    def test_translated_formats(self, (fmt, expected)):
+        dtime = datetime(2013, 02, 14, 16, 41, 17)
+        self.assertEqual(expected, strftime_localized(dtime, fmt))
+
+    @patch('util.date_utils.ugettext', partial(fake_ugettext, translations={
+        "SHORT_DATE_FORMAT": "oops date(%Y.%x.%d)",
+        "TIME_FORMAT": "oops %Hh.%Xm.%Ss",
+    }))
+    @ddt.data(
+        ("SHORT_DATE", "Feb 14, 2013"),
+        ("TIME", "04:41:17 PM"),
+    )
+    def test_recursion_protection(self, (fmt, expected)):
+        dtime = datetime(2013, 02, 14, 16, 41, 17)
+        self.assertEqual(expected, strftime_localized(dtime, fmt))
+
+    @ddt.data(
+        "%",
+        "Hello%"
+        "%Y/%m/%d%",
+    )
+    def test_invalid_format_strings(self, fmt):
+        dtime = datetime(2013, 02, 14, 16, 41, 17)
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
+            strftime_localized(dtime, fmt)
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/course_module.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/course_module.py
index 2b5ec749f1..66b3c0630f 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/course_module.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/course_module.py
@@ -828,13 +828,17 @@ class CourseDescriptor(CourseFields, SequenceDescriptor):
         Returns the desired text corresponding the course's start date.  Prefers .advertised_start,
         then falls back to .start
         """
+        i18n = self.runtime.service(self, "i18n")
+        _ = i18n.ugettext
+        strftime = i18n.strftime
+
         def try_parse_iso_8601(text):
             try:
                 result = Date().from_json(text)
                 if result is None:
                     result = text.title()
                 else:
-                    result = result.strftime("%b %d, %Y")
+                    result = strftime(result, "SHORT_DATE")
             except ValueError:
                 result = text.title()
 
@@ -843,12 +847,12 @@ class CourseDescriptor(CourseFields, SequenceDescriptor):
         if isinstance(self.advertised_start, basestring):
             return try_parse_iso_8601(self.advertised_start)
         elif self.start_date_is_still_default:
-            _ = self.runtime.service(self, "i18n").ugettext
             # Translators: TBD stands for 'To Be Determined' and is used when a course
             # does not yet have an announced start date.
             return _('TBD')
         else:
-            return (self.advertised_start or self.start).strftime("%b %d, %Y")
+            when = self.advertised_start or self.start
+            return strftime(when, "SHORT_DATE")
 
     @property
     def start_date_is_still_default(self):
@@ -865,7 +869,11 @@ class CourseDescriptor(CourseFields, SequenceDescriptor):
 
         If the course does not have an end date set (course.end is None), an empty string will be returned.
         """
-        return '' if self.end is None else self.end.strftime("%b %d, %Y")
+        if self.end is None:
+            return ''
+        else:
+            strftime = self.runtime.service(self, "i18n").strftime
+            return strftime(self.end, "SHORT_DATE")
 
     @property
     def forum_posts_allowed(self):
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_date_utils.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_date_utils.py
deleted file mode 100644
index ae6fd7f109..0000000000
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_date_utils.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,106 +0,0 @@
-"""Tests for xmodule.util.date_utils"""
-
-from nose.tools import assert_equals, assert_false  # pylint: disable=E0611
-from xmodule.util.date_utils import get_default_time_display, get_time_display, almost_same_datetime
-from datetime import datetime, timedelta, tzinfo
-from pytz import UTC, timezone
-
-
-def test_get_default_time_display():
-    assert_equals("", get_default_time_display(None))
-    test_time = datetime(1992, 3, 12, 15, 3, 30, tzinfo=UTC)
-    assert_equals(
-        "Mar 12, 1992 at 15:03 UTC",
-        get_default_time_display(test_time))
-
-
-def test_get_dflt_time_disp_notz():
-    test_time = datetime(1992, 3, 12, 15, 3, 30)
-    assert_equals(
-        "Mar 12, 1992 at 15:03 UTC",
-        get_default_time_display(test_time))
-
-
-def test_get_time_disp_ret_empty():
-    assert_equals("", get_time_display(None))
-    test_time = datetime(1992, 3, 12, 15, 3, 30, tzinfo=UTC)
-    assert_equals("", get_time_display(test_time, ""))
-
-
-def test_get_time_display():
-    test_time = datetime(1992, 3, 12, 15, 3, 30, tzinfo=UTC)
-    assert_equals("dummy text", get_time_display(test_time, 'dummy text'))
-    assert_equals("Mar 12 1992", get_time_display(test_time, '%b %d %Y'))
-    assert_equals("Mar 12 1992 UTC", get_time_display(test_time, '%b %d %Y %Z'))
-    assert_equals("Mar 12 15:03", get_time_display(test_time, '%b %d %H:%M'))
-
-
-def test_get_time_pass_through():
-    test_time = datetime(1992, 3, 12, 15, 3, 30, tzinfo=UTC)
-    assert_equals("Mar 12, 1992 at 15:03 UTC", get_time_display(test_time))
-    assert_equals("Mar 12, 1992 at 15:03 UTC", get_time_display(test_time, None))
-    assert_equals("Mar 12, 1992 at 15:03 UTC", get_time_display(test_time, "%"))
-
-
-def test_get_time_display_coerce():
-    test_time_standard = datetime(1992, 1, 12, 15, 3, 30, tzinfo=UTC)
-    test_time_daylight = datetime(1992, 7, 12, 15, 3, 30, tzinfo=UTC)
-    assert_equals("Jan 12, 1992 at 07:03 PST",
-                  get_time_display(test_time_standard, None, coerce_tz="US/Pacific"))
-    assert_equals("Jan 12, 1992 at 15:03 UTC",
-                  get_time_display(test_time_standard, None, coerce_tz="NONEXISTENTTZ"))
-    assert_equals("Jan 12 07:03",
-                  get_time_display(test_time_standard, '%b %d %H:%M', coerce_tz="US/Pacific"))
-    assert_equals("Jul 12, 1992 at 08:03 PDT",
-                  get_time_display(test_time_daylight, None, coerce_tz="US/Pacific"))
-    assert_equals("Jul 12, 1992 at 15:03 UTC",
-                  get_time_display(test_time_daylight, None, coerce_tz="NONEXISTENTTZ"))
-    assert_equals("Jul 12 08:03",
-                  get_time_display(test_time_daylight, '%b %d %H:%M', coerce_tz="US/Pacific"))
-
-
-# pylint: disable=W0232
-class NamelessTZ(tzinfo):
-    """Static timezone for testing"""
-
-    def utcoffset(self, _dt):
-        return timedelta(hours=-3)
-
-    def dst(self, _dt):
-        return timedelta(0)
-
-
-def test_get_default_time_display_no_tzname():
-    assert_equals("", get_default_time_display(None))
-    test_time = datetime(1992, 3, 12, 15, 3, 30, tzinfo=NamelessTZ())
-    assert_equals(
-        "Mar 12, 1992 at 15:03-0300",
-        get_default_time_display(test_time))
-
-
-def test_almost_same_datetime():
-    assert almost_same_datetime(
-        datetime(2013, 5, 3, 10, 20, 30),
-        datetime(2013, 5, 3, 10, 21, 29)
-    )
-
-    assert almost_same_datetime(
-        datetime(2013, 5, 3, 11, 20, 30),
-        datetime(2013, 5, 3, 10, 21, 29),
-        timedelta(hours=1)
-    )
-
-    assert_false(
-        almost_same_datetime(
-            datetime(2013, 5, 3, 11, 20, 30),
-            datetime(2013, 5, 3, 10, 21, 29)
-        )
-    )
-
-    assert_false(
-        almost_same_datetime(
-            datetime(2013, 5, 3, 11, 20, 30),
-            datetime(2013, 5, 3, 10, 21, 29),
-            timedelta(minutes=10)
-        )
-    )
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/util/date_utils.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/util/date_utils.py
deleted file mode 100644
index a862bc7d31..0000000000
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/util/date_utils.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,64 +0,0 @@
-"""
-Convenience methods for working with datetime objects
-"""
-from datetime import timedelta
-from pytz import timezone, UTC, UnknownTimeZoneError
-
-def get_default_time_display(dtime):
-    """
-    Converts a datetime to a string representation. This is the default
-    representation used in Studio and LMS.
-    It is of the form "Apr 09, 2013 at 16:00 UTC".
-
-    If None is passed in for dt, an empty string will be returned.
-    """
-    if dtime is None:
-        return u""
-    if dtime.tzinfo is not None:
-        try:
-            timezone = u" " + dtime.tzinfo.tzname(dtime)
-        except NotImplementedError:
-            timezone = dtime.strftime('%z')
-    else:
-        timezone = u" UTC"
-    return unicode(dtime.strftime(u"%b %d, %Y at %H:%M{tz}")).format(
-        tz=timezone).strip()
-
-
-def get_time_display(dtime, format_string=None, coerce_tz=None):
-    """
-    Converts a datetime to a string representation.
-
-    If None is passed in for dt, an empty string will be returned.
-
-    If the format_string is None, or if format_string is improperly
-    formatted, this method will return the value from `get_default_time_display`.
-
-    Coerces aware datetime to tz=coerce_tz if set. coerce_tz should be a pytz timezone string
-    like "US/Pacific", or None
-
-    format_string should be a unicode string that is a valid argument for datetime's strftime method.
-    """
-    if dtime is not None and dtime.tzinfo is not None and coerce_tz:
-        try:
-            to_tz = timezone(coerce_tz)
-        except UnknownTimeZoneError:
-            to_tz = UTC
-        dtime = to_tz.normalize(dtime.astimezone(to_tz))
-    if dtime is None or format_string is None:
-        return get_default_time_display(dtime)
-    try:
-        return unicode(dtime.strftime(format_string))
-    except ValueError:
-        return get_default_time_display(dtime)
-
-
-def almost_same_datetime(dt1, dt2, allowed_delta=timedelta(minutes=1)):
-    """
-    Returns true if these are w/in a minute of each other. (in case secs saved to db
-    or timezone aren't same)
-
-    :param dt1:
-    :param dt2:
-    """
-    return abs(dt1 - dt2) < allowed_delta
diff --git a/conf/locale/eo/LC_MESSAGES/django.mo b/conf/locale/eo/LC_MESSAGES/django.mo
index 79f0d07160..d3e1a12b80 100644
Binary files a/conf/locale/eo/LC_MESSAGES/django.mo and b/conf/locale/eo/LC_MESSAGES/django.mo differ
diff --git a/conf/locale/eo/LC_MESSAGES/django.po b/conf/locale/eo/LC_MESSAGES/django.po
index 8a06f0ed7c..a3d301bd8c 100644
--- a/conf/locale/eo/LC_MESSAGES/django.po
+++ b/conf/locale/eo/LC_MESSAGES/django.po
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ msgid ""
 msgstr ""
 "Project-Id-Version: PROJECT VERSION\n"
 "Report-Msgid-Bugs-To: EMAIL@ADDRESS\n"
-"POT-Creation-Date: 2014-02-18 13:34-0500\n"
+"POT-Creation-Date: 2014-02-18 16:36-0500\n"
 "PO-Revision-Date: YEAR-MO-DA HO:MI+ZONE\n"
 "Last-Translator: FULL NAME <EMAIL@ADDRESS>\n"
 "Language-Team: LANGUAGE <LL@li.org>\n"
@@ -338,6 +338,357 @@ msgstr "Nämé réqüïréd Ⱡ'#"
 msgid "Invalid ID"
 msgstr "Ìnvälïd ÌD Ⱡ#"
 
+#. Translators: the translation for "LONG_DATE_FORMAT" must be a format
+#. string for formatting dates in a long form.  For example, the
+#. American English form is "%A, %B %d %Y".
+#. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgid "LONG_DATE_FORMAT"
+msgstr ""
+
+#. Translators: the translation for "DATE_TIME_FORMAT" must be a format
+#. string for formatting dates with times.  For example, the American
+#. English form is "%b %d, %Y at %H:%M".
+#. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgid "DATE_TIME_FORMAT"
+msgstr ""
+
+#. Translators: the translation for "SHORT_DATE_FORMAT" must be a
+#. format string for formatting dates in a brief form.  For example,
+#. the American English form is "%b %d %Y".
+#. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgid "SHORT_DATE_FORMAT"
+msgstr ""
+
+#. Translators: the translation for "TIME_FORMAT" must be a format
+#. string for formatting times.  For example, the American English
+#. form is "%H:%M:%S". See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgid "TIME_FORMAT"
+msgstr ""
+
+#. Translators: This is an AM/PM indicator for displaying times.  It is
+#. used for the %p directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org
+#. for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "am/pm indicator"
+msgid "AM"
+msgstr "ÀM Ⱡ'#"
+
+#. Translators: This is an AM/PM indicator for displaying times.  It is
+#. used for the %p directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org
+#. for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "am/pm indicator"
+msgid "PM"
+msgstr "PM Ⱡ'#"
+
+#. Translators: this is a weekday name that will be used when displaying
+#. dates, as in "Monday Februrary 10, 2014". It is used for the %A
+#. directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "weekday name"
+msgid "Monday"
+msgstr "Möndäý Ⱡ'σяєм ιρѕ#"
+
+#. Translators: this is a weekday name that will be used when displaying
+#. dates, as in "Tuesday Februrary 11, 2014". It is used for the %A
+#. directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "weekday name"
+msgid "Tuesday"
+msgstr "Tüésdäý #"
+
+#. Translators: this is a weekday name that will be used when displaying
+#. dates, as in "Wednesday Februrary 12, 2014". It is used for the %A
+#. directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "weekday name"
+msgid "Wednesday"
+msgstr "Wédnésdäý #"
+
+#. Translators: this is a weekday name that will be used when displaying
+#. dates, as in "Thursday Februrary 13, 2014". It is used for the %A
+#. directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "weekday name"
+msgid "Thursday"
+msgstr "Thürsdäý #"
+
+#. Translators: this is a weekday name that will be used when displaying
+#. dates, as in "Friday Februrary 14, 2014". It is used for the %A
+#. directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "weekday name"
+msgid "Friday"
+msgstr "Frïdäý Ⱡ'σяєм ιρѕ#"
+
+#. Translators: this is a weekday name that will be used when displaying
+#. dates, as in "Saturday Februrary 15, 2014". It is used for the %A
+#. directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "weekday name"
+msgid "Saturday"
+msgstr "Sätürdäý #"
+
+#. Translators: this is a weekday name that will be used when displaying
+#. dates, as in "Sunday Februrary 16, 2014". It is used for the %A
+#. directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "weekday name"
+msgid "Sunday"
+msgstr "Sündäý Ⱡ'σяєм ιρѕ#"
+
+#. Translators: this is an abbreviated weekday name that will be used when
+#. displaying dates, as in "Mon Feb 10, 2014". It is used for the %a
+#. directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "abbreviated weekday name"
+msgid "Mon"
+msgstr "Mön Ⱡ'σя#"
+
+#. Translators: this is an abbreviated weekday name that will be used when
+#. displaying dates, as in "Tue Feb 11, 2014". It is used for the %a
+#. directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "abbreviated weekday name"
+msgid "Tue"
+msgstr "Tüé Ⱡ'σя#"
+
+#. Translators: this is an abbreviated weekday name that will be used when
+#. displaying dates, as in "Wed Feb 12, 2014". It is used for the %a
+#. directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "abbreviated weekday name"
+msgid "Wed"
+msgstr "Wéd Ⱡ'σя#"
+
+#. Translators: this is an abbreviated weekday name that will be used when
+#. displaying dates, as in "Thu Feb 13, 2014". It is used for the %a
+#. directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "abbreviated weekday name"
+msgid "Thu"
+msgstr "Thü Ⱡ'σя#"
+
+#. Translators: this is an abbreviated weekday name that will be used when
+#. displaying dates, as in "Fri Feb 14, 2014". It is used for the %a
+#. directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "abbreviated weekday name"
+msgid "Fri"
+msgstr "Frï Ⱡ'σя#"
+
+#. Translators: this is an abbreviated weekday name that will be used when
+#. displaying dates, as in "Sat Feb 15, 2014". It is used for the %a
+#. directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "abbreviated weekday name"
+msgid "Sat"
+msgstr "Sät Ⱡ'σя#"
+
+#. Translators: this is an abbreviated weekday name that will be used when
+#. displaying dates, as in "Sun Feb 16, 2014". It is used for the %a
+#. directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "abbreviated weekday name"
+msgid "Sun"
+msgstr "Sün Ⱡ'σя#"
+
+#. Translators: this is an abbreviated month name that will be used when
+#. displaying dates, as in "Jan 10, 2014". It is used for the %b
+#. directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "abbreviated month name"
+msgid "Jan"
+msgstr "Jän Ⱡ'σя#"
+
+#. Translators: this is an abbreviated month name that will be used when
+#. displaying dates, as in "Feb 10, 2014". It is used for the %b
+#. directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "abbreviated month name"
+msgid "Feb"
+msgstr "Féß Ⱡ'σя#"
+
+#. Translators: this is an abbreviated month name that will be used when
+#. displaying dates, as in "Mar 10, 2014". It is used for the %b
+#. directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "abbreviated month name"
+msgid "Mar"
+msgstr "Mär Ⱡ'σя#"
+
+#. Translators: this is an abbreviated month name that will be used when
+#. displaying dates, as in "Apr 10, 2014". It is used for the %b
+#. directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "abbreviated month name"
+msgid "Apr"
+msgstr "Àpr Ⱡ'σя#"
+
+#. Translators: this is an abbreviated month name that will be used when
+#. displaying dates, as in "May 10, 2014". It is used for the %b
+#. directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "abbreviated month name"
+msgid "May"
+msgstr "Mäý Ⱡ'σя#"
+
+#. Translators: this is an abbreviated month name that will be used when
+#. displaying dates, as in "Jun 10, 2014". It is used for the %b
+#. directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "abbreviated month name"
+msgid "Jun"
+msgstr "Jün Ⱡ'σя#"
+
+#. Translators: this is an abbreviated month name that will be used when
+#. displaying dates, as in "Jul 10, 2014". It is used for the %b
+#. directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "abbreviated month name"
+msgid "Jul"
+msgstr "Jül Ⱡ'σя#"
+
+#. Translators: this is an abbreviated month name that will be used when
+#. displaying dates, as in "Aug 10, 2014". It is used for the %b
+#. directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "abbreviated month name"
+msgid "Aug"
+msgstr "Àüg Ⱡ'σя#"
+
+#. Translators: this is an abbreviated month name that will be used when
+#. displaying dates, as in "Sep 10, 2014". It is used for the %b
+#. directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "abbreviated month name"
+msgid "Sep"
+msgstr "Sép Ⱡ'σя#"
+
+#. Translators: this is an abbreviated month name that will be used when
+#. displaying dates, as in "Oct 10, 2014". It is used for the %b
+#. directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "abbreviated month name"
+msgid "Oct"
+msgstr "Öçt Ⱡ'σя#"
+
+#. Translators: this is an abbreviated month name that will be used when
+#. displaying dates, as in "Nov 10, 2014". It is used for the %b
+#. directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "abbreviated month name"
+msgid "Nov"
+msgstr "Növ Ⱡ'σя#"
+
+#. Translators: this is an abbreviated month name that will be used when
+#. displaying dates, as in "Dec 10, 2014". It is used for the %b
+#. directive in date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "abbreviated month name"
+msgid "Dec"
+msgstr "Déç Ⱡ'σя#"
+
+#. Translators: this is a month name that will be used when displaying
+#. dates, as in "January 10, 2014". It is used for the %B directive in
+#. date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "month name"
+msgid "January"
+msgstr "Jänüärý #"
+
+#. Translators: this is a month name that will be used when displaying
+#. dates, as in "February 10, 2014". It is used for the %B directive in
+#. date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "month name"
+msgid "February"
+msgstr "Féßrüärý #"
+
+#. Translators: this is a month name that will be used when displaying
+#. dates, as in "March 10, 2014". It is used for the %B directive in
+#. date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "month name"
+msgid "March"
+msgstr "Märçh Ⱡ'σяєм ι#"
+
+#. Translators: this is a month name that will be used when displaying
+#. dates, as in "April 10, 2014". It is used for the %B directive in
+#. date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "month name"
+msgid "April"
+msgstr "Àprïl Ⱡ'σяєм ι#"
+
+#. Translators: this is a month name that will be used when displaying
+#. dates, as in "May 10, 2014". It is used for the %B directive in
+#. date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "month name"
+msgid "May"
+msgstr "Mäý Ⱡ'σя#"
+
+#. Translators: this is a month name that will be used when displaying
+#. dates, as in "June 10, 2014". It is used for the %B directive in
+#. date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "month name"
+msgid "June"
+msgstr "Jüné Ⱡ'σяєм#"
+
+#. Translators: this is a month name that will be used when displaying
+#. dates, as in "July 10, 2014". It is used for the %B directive in
+#. date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "month name"
+msgid "July"
+msgstr "Jülý Ⱡ'σяєм#"
+
+#. Translators: this is a month name that will be used when displaying
+#. dates, as in "August 10, 2014". It is used for the %B directive in
+#. date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "month name"
+msgid "August"
+msgstr "Àügüst Ⱡ'σяєм ιρѕ#"
+
+#. Translators: this is a month name that will be used when displaying
+#. dates, as in "September 10, 2014". It is used for the %B directive in
+#. date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "month name"
+msgid "September"
+msgstr "Séptémßér #"
+
+#. Translators: this is a month name that will be used when displaying
+#. dates, as in "October 10, 2014". It is used for the %B directive in
+#. date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "month name"
+msgid "October"
+msgstr "Öçtößér #"
+
+#. Translators: this is a month name that will be used when displaying
+#. dates, as in "November 10, 2014". It is used for the %B directive in
+#. date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "month name"
+msgid "November"
+msgstr "Növémßér #"
+
+#. Translators: this is a month name that will be used when displaying
+#. dates, as in "December 10, 2014". It is used for the %B directive in
+#. date-time formats. See http://strftime.org for details.
+#: common/djangoapps/util/date_utils.py
+msgctxt "month name"
+msgid "December"
+msgstr "Déçémßér #"
+
 #: common/djangoapps/util/password_policy_validators.py
 msgid "Invalid Length ({0})"
 msgstr "Ìnvälïd Léngth ({0}) Ⱡ'σя#"
diff --git a/conf/locale/eo/LC_MESSAGES/djangojs.mo b/conf/locale/eo/LC_MESSAGES/djangojs.mo
index 271498c7e0..be17cb59c1 100644
Binary files a/conf/locale/eo/LC_MESSAGES/djangojs.mo and b/conf/locale/eo/LC_MESSAGES/djangojs.mo differ
diff --git a/conf/locale/eo/LC_MESSAGES/djangojs.po b/conf/locale/eo/LC_MESSAGES/djangojs.po
index 942fc28f82..2710944286 100644
--- a/conf/locale/eo/LC_MESSAGES/djangojs.po
+++ b/conf/locale/eo/LC_MESSAGES/djangojs.po
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@ msgid ""
 msgstr ""
 "Project-Id-Version: 0.1a\n"
 "Report-Msgid-Bugs-To: openedx-translation@googlegroups.com\n"
-"POT-Creation-Date: 2014-02-18 13:34-0500\n"
-"PO-Revision-Date: 2014-02-18 18:34:51.762964\n"
+"POT-Creation-Date: 2014-02-18 16:36-0500\n"
+"PO-Revision-Date: 2014-02-18 21:36:33.541469\n"
 "Last-Translator: \n"
 "Language-Team: openedx-translation <openedx-translation@googlegroups.com>\n"
 "MIME-Version: 1.0\n"
diff --git a/i18n/dummy.py b/i18n/dummy.py
index d72c31eb55..27309fc342 100755
--- a/i18n/dummy.py
+++ b/i18n/dummy.py
@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@ generates output conf/locale/$DUMMY_LOCALE/LC_MESSAGES,
 where $DUMMY_LOCALE is the dummy_locale value set in the i18n config
 """
 
+import re
 import sys
+
 import polib
 from path import path
 
@@ -173,6 +175,10 @@ def make_dummy(filename, locale, converter):
         raise IOError('File does not exist: %r' % filename)
     pofile = polib.pofile(filename)
     for msg in pofile:
+        # Some strings are actually formatting strings, don't dummy-ify them,
+        # or dates will look like "DÀTÉ_TÌMÉ_FÖRMÀT Ⱡ'σ# EST"
+        if re.match(r"^[A-Z_]+_FORMAT$", msg.msgid):
+            continue
         converter.convert_msg(msg)
 
     # Apply declaration for English pluralization rules so that ngettext will
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/module_render.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/module_render.py
index cb2036a04c..382131f262 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/module_render.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/module_render.py
@@ -25,8 +25,6 @@ from lms.lib.xblock.runtime import LmsModuleSystem, unquote_slashes
 from edxmako.shortcuts import render_to_string
 from psychometrics.psychoanalyze import make_psychometrics_data_update_handler
 from student.models import anonymous_id_for_user, user_by_anonymous_id
-from util.json_request import JsonResponse
-from util.sandboxing import can_execute_unsafe_code
 from xblock.core import XBlock
 from xblock.fields import Scope
 from xblock.runtime import KvsFieldData, KeyValueStore
@@ -42,6 +40,10 @@ from xmodule_modifiers import replace_course_urls, replace_jump_to_id_urls, repl
 from xmodule.lti_module import LTIModule
 from xmodule.x_module import XModuleDescriptor
 
+from util.date_utils import strftime_localized
+from util.json_request import JsonResponse
+from util.sandboxing import can_execute_unsafe_code
+
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -428,10 +430,7 @@ def get_module_for_descriptor_internal(user, descriptor, field_data_cache, cours
         wrappers=block_wrappers,
         get_real_user=user_by_anonymous_id,
         services={
-            # django.utils.translation implements the gettext.Translations
-            # interface (it has ugettext, ungettext, etc), so we can use it
-            # directly as the runtime i18n service.
-            'i18n': django.utils.translation,
+            'i18n': ModuleI18nService(),
         },
         get_user_role=lambda: get_user_role(user, course_id),
     )
@@ -652,3 +651,20 @@ def _check_files_limits(files):
                 return msg
 
     return None
+
+
+class ModuleI18nService(object):
+    """
+    Implement the XBlock runtime "i18n" service.
+
+    Mostly a pass-through to Django's translation module.
+    django.utils.translation implements the gettext.Translations interface (it
+    has ugettext, ungettext, etc), so we can use it directly as the runtime
+    i18n service.
+
+    """
+    def __getattr__(self, name):
+        return getattr(django.utils.translation, name)
+
+    def strftime(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        return strftime_localized(*args, **kwargs)
diff --git a/lms/templates/courseware/accordion.html b/lms/templates/courseware/accordion.html
index d857fc3ba0..ae344bdcc5 100644
--- a/lms/templates/courseware/accordion.html
+++ b/lms/templates/courseware/accordion.html
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <%!
     from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
-    from xmodule.util.date_utils import get_time_display
+    from util.date_utils import get_time_display
     from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _
     from django.conf import settings
 %>
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
                     due_date = ''
                 else:
                     formatted_string = get_time_display(section['due'], due_date_display_format, coerce_tz=settings.TIME_ZONE)
-                    due_date = '' if len(formatted_string)==0 else _('due {date}'.format(date=formatted_string))
+                    due_date = '' if len(formatted_string)==0 else _('due {date}').format(date=formatted_string)
               %>
               <p class="subtitle">${section['format']} ${due_date}</p>
             </a>
diff --git a/lms/templates/courseware/progress.html b/lms/templates/courseware/progress.html
index 7eeea8da59..02cec1f373 100644
--- a/lms/templates/courseware/progress.html
+++ b/lms/templates/courseware/progress.html
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 %>
 
 <%!
-from xmodule.util.date_utils import get_time_display
+from util.date_utils import get_time_display
 from django.conf import settings
 %>
 
diff --git a/lms/templates/folditbasic.html b/lms/templates/folditbasic.html
index e05ceb1452..e5073751bb 100644
--- a/lms/templates/folditbasic.html
+++ b/lms/templates/folditbasic.html
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <%! from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _ %>
 
 <%!
-from xmodule.util.date_utils import get_default_time_display
+from util.date_utils import get_default_time_display
 %>
 <div class="folditbasic">
 <p><strong>${_("Due:")}</strong> ${get_default_time_display(due)}
diff --git a/lms/templates/index.html b/lms/templates/index.html
index d8e6d75278..b2fdfe0633 100644
--- a/lms/templates/index.html
+++ b/lms/templates/index.html
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 <%! from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _ %>
 
 <%! from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse %>
-<%! from time import strftime %>
 <%inherit file="main.html" />
 <%namespace name='static' file='static_content.html'/>
 
diff --git a/requirements/edx/github.txt b/requirements/edx/github.txt
index d32df83bb1..f08722afed 100644
--- a/requirements/edx/github.txt
+++ b/requirements/edx/github.txt
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 -e git+https://github.com/eventbrite/zendesk.git@d53fe0e81b623f084e91776bcf6369f8b7b63879#egg=zendesk
 
 # Our libraries:
--e git+https://github.com/edx/XBlock.git@6d431d786587bd8f3a19a893364914d6e2d6c28f#egg=XBlock
+-e git+https://github.com/edx/XBlock.git@893cd83dfb24405ce81b07f49c1c2e3053cdc865#egg=XBlock
 -e git+https://github.com/edx/codejail.git@e3d98f9455#egg=codejail
 -e git+https://github.com/edx/diff-cover.git@v0.2.9#egg=diff_cover
 -e git+https://github.com/edx/js-test-tool.git@v0.1.5#egg=js_test_tool