diff --git a/docs/contribute.rst b/docs/contribute.rst
index 044ef924..19604da0 100644
--- a/docs/contribute.rst
+++ b/docs/contribute.rst
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ functional tests. To do so, you can use the following two commands::
     $ LC_ALL=en_US.utf8 pelican -o pelican/tests/output/custom/ \
         -s samples/pelican.conf.py samples/content/
     $ LC_ALL=fr_FR.utf8 pelican -o pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/ \
-        -s samples/pelican_FR.conf.py samples/content/
+        -s samples/pelican.conf_FR.py samples/content/
     $ LC_ALL=en_US.utf8 pelican -o pelican/tests/output/basic/ \
         samples/content/
 
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/archives.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/archives.html
index a7b96336..1336b487 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/archives.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/archives.html
@@ -32,25 +32,25 @@
 <h1>Archives for Alexis' log</h1>
 
 <dl>
-    <dt>ven. 30 novembre 2012</dt>
+    <dt>30 novembre 2012</dt>
     <dd><a href="./posts/2012/novembre/30/filename_metadata-example/">FILENAME_METADATA example</a></dd>
-    <dt>mer. 29 février 2012</dt>
+    <dt>29 février 2012</dt>
     <dd><a href="./posts/2012/février/29/second-article/">Second article</a></dd>
-    <dt>mer. 20 avril 2011</dt>
+    <dt>20 avril 2011</dt>
     <dd><a href="./posts/2011/avril/20/a-markdown-powered-article/">A markdown powered article</a></dd>
-    <dt>jeu. 17 février 2011</dt>
+    <dt>17 février 2011</dt>
     <dd><a href="./posts/2011/février/17/article-1/">Article 1</a></dd>
-    <dt>jeu. 17 février 2011</dt>
+    <dt>17 février 2011</dt>
     <dd><a href="./posts/2011/février/17/article-2/">Article 2</a></dd>
-    <dt>jeu. 17 février 2011</dt>
+    <dt>17 février 2011</dt>
     <dd><a href="./posts/2011/février/17/article-3/">Article 3</a></dd>
-    <dt>jeu. 02 décembre 2010</dt>
+    <dt>02 décembre 2010</dt>
     <dd><a href="./posts/2010/décembre/02/this-is-a-super-article/">This is a super article !</a></dd>
-    <dt>mer. 20 octobre 2010</dt>
+    <dt>20 octobre 2010</dt>
     <dd><a href="./posts/2010/octobre/20/oh-yeah/">Oh yeah !</a></dd>
-    <dt>ven. 15 octobre 2010</dt>
+    <dt>15 octobre 2010</dt>
     <dd><a href="./posts/2010/octobre/15/unbelievable/">Unbelievable !</a></dd>
-    <dt>dim. 14 mars 2010</dt>
+    <dt>14 mars 2010</dt>
     <dd><a href="./tag/baz.html">The baz tag</a></dd>
 </dl>
 </section>
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/author/alexis-metaireau.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/author/alexis-metaireau.html
index b54446c8..7c2fa448 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/author/alexis-metaireau.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/author/alexis-metaireau.html
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
                     <h1 class="entry-title"><a href="../posts/2012/novembre/30/filename_metadata-example/">FILENAME_METADATA example</a></h1>
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2012-11-30T00:00:00">
-                Published: ven. 30 novembre 2012
+                Published: 30 novembre 2012
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2012-02-29T00:00:00">
-                Published: mer. 29 février 2012
+                Published: 29 février 2012
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2011-04-20T00:00:00">
-                Published: mer. 20 avril 2011
+                Published: 20 avril 2011
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2011-02-17T00:00:00">
-                Published: jeu. 17 février 2011
+                Published: 17 février 2011
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/author/alexis-metaireau2.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/author/alexis-metaireau2.html
index 07020512..9ba313da 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/author/alexis-metaireau2.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/author/alexis-metaireau2.html
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2011-02-17T00:00:00">
-                Published: jeu. 17 février 2011
+                Published: 17 février 2011
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2011-02-17T00:00:00">
-                Published: jeu. 17 février 2011
+                Published: 17 février 2011
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
@@ -86,11 +86,11 @@
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2010-12-02T10:14:00">
-                Published: jeu. 02 décembre 2010
+                Published: 02 décembre 2010
         </abbr>
 		<br />
         <abbr class="modified" title="2013-11-17T23:29:00">
-                Updated: dim. 17 novembre 2013
+                Updated: 17 novembre 2013
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ as well as <strong>inline markup</strong>.</p>
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2010-10-20T10:14:00">
-                Published: mer. 20 octobre 2010
+                Published: 20 octobre 2010
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/author/alexis-metaireau3.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/author/alexis-metaireau3.html
index 9578e3d6..5104b7b0 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/author/alexis-metaireau3.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/author/alexis-metaireau3.html
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2010-10-15T20:30:00">
-                Published: ven. 15 octobre 2010
+                Published: 15 octobre 2010
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ pelican.conf, it ...</p></div>
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2010-03-14T00:00:00">
-                Published: dim. 14 mars 2010
+                Published: 14 mars 2010
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/category/bar.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/category/bar.html
index d9fc6acb..c693d3f5 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/category/bar.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/category/bar.html
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
                     <h1 class="entry-title"><a href="../posts/2010/octobre/20/oh-yeah/">Oh yeah !</a></h1>
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2010-10-20T10:14:00">
-                Published: mer. 20 octobre 2010
+                Published: 20 octobre 2010
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/category/cat1.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/category/cat1.html
index 1b09acfe..c332f817 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/category/cat1.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/category/cat1.html
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
                     <h1 class="entry-title"><a href="../posts/2011/avril/20/a-markdown-powered-article/">A markdown powered article</a></h1>
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2011-04-20T00:00:00">
-                Published: mer. 20 avril 2011
+                Published: 20 avril 2011
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2011-02-17T00:00:00">
-                Published: jeu. 17 février 2011
+                Published: 17 février 2011
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2011-02-17T00:00:00">
-                Published: jeu. 17 février 2011
+                Published: 17 février 2011
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2011-02-17T00:00:00">
-                Published: jeu. 17 février 2011
+                Published: 17 février 2011
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/category/misc.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/category/misc.html
index bcaec248..02562525 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/category/misc.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/category/misc.html
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
                     <h1 class="entry-title"><a href="../posts/2012/novembre/30/filename_metadata-example/">FILENAME_METADATA example</a></h1>
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2012-11-30T00:00:00">
-                Published: ven. 30 novembre 2012
+                Published: 30 novembre 2012
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2012-02-29T00:00:00">
-                Published: mer. 29 février 2012
+                Published: 29 février 2012
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2010-10-15T20:30:00">
-                Published: ven. 15 octobre 2010
+                Published: 15 octobre 2010
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ pelican.conf, it ...</p></div>
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2010-03-14T00:00:00">
-                Published: dim. 14 mars 2010
+                Published: 14 mars 2010
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/category/yeah.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/category/yeah.html
index 7f881612..6427095b 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/category/yeah.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/category/yeah.html
@@ -34,11 +34,11 @@
                     <h1 class="entry-title"><a href="../posts/2010/décembre/02/this-is-a-super-article/">This is a super article !</a></h1>
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2010-12-02T10:14:00">
-                Published: jeu. 02 décembre 2010
+                Published: 02 décembre 2010
         </abbr>
 		<br />
         <abbr class="modified" title="2013-11-17T23:29:00">
-                Updated: dim. 17 novembre 2013
+                Updated: 17 novembre 2013
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/drafts/a-draft-article.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/drafts/a-draft-article.html
index 82fb057b..16ff22cd 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/drafts/a-draft-article.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/drafts/a-draft-article.html
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
     <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2012-03-02T14:01:01">
-                Published: ven. 02 mars 2012
+                Published: 02 mars 2012
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/index.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/index.html
index fd9a82b4..5898c5b5 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/index.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/index.html
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
                     <h1 class="entry-title"><a href="./posts/2012/novembre/30/filename_metadata-example/">FILENAME_METADATA example</a></h1>
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2012-11-30T00:00:00">
-                Published: ven. 30 novembre 2012
+                Published: 30 novembre 2012
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2012-02-29T00:00:00">
-                Published: mer. 29 février 2012
+                Published: 29 février 2012
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2011-04-20T00:00:00">
-                Published: mer. 20 avril 2011
+                Published: 20 avril 2011
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2011-02-17T00:00:00">
-                Published: jeu. 17 février 2011
+                Published: 17 février 2011
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/index2.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/index2.html
index f02ba27c..f1ed6b46 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/index2.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/index2.html
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2011-02-17T00:00:00">
-                Published: jeu. 17 février 2011
+                Published: 17 février 2011
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2011-02-17T00:00:00">
-                Published: jeu. 17 février 2011
+                Published: 17 février 2011
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
@@ -86,11 +86,11 @@
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2010-12-02T10:14:00">
-                Published: jeu. 02 décembre 2010
+                Published: 02 décembre 2010
         </abbr>
 		<br />
         <abbr class="modified" title="2013-11-17T23:29:00">
-                Updated: dim. 17 novembre 2013
+                Updated: 17 novembre 2013
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ as well as <strong>inline markup</strong>.</p>
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2010-10-20T10:14:00">
-                Published: mer. 20 octobre 2010
+                Published: 20 octobre 2010
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/index3.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/index3.html
index 9c7416b6..7f7a905f 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/index3.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/index3.html
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2010-10-15T20:30:00">
-                Published: ven. 15 octobre 2010
+                Published: 15 octobre 2010
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ pelican.conf, it ...</p></div>
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2010-03-14T00:00:00">
-                Published: dim. 14 mars 2010
+                Published: 14 mars 2010
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/oh-yeah-fr.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/oh-yeah-fr.html
index cdda855d..72c8b62d 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/oh-yeah-fr.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/oh-yeah-fr.html
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
     <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2012-03-02T14:01:01">
-                Published: ven. 02 mars 2012
+                Published: 02 mars 2012
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2010/décembre/02/this-is-a-super-article/index.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2010/décembre/02/this-is-a-super-article/index.html
index ec1007f3..0dd0e3da 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2010/décembre/02/this-is-a-super-article/index.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2010/décembre/02/this-is-a-super-article/index.html
@@ -39,11 +39,11 @@
     <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2010-12-02T10:14:00">
-                Published: jeu. 02 décembre 2010
+                Published: 02 décembre 2010
         </abbr>
 		<br />
         <abbr class="modified" title="2013-11-17T23:29:00">
-                Updated: dim. 17 novembre 2013
+                Updated: 17 novembre 2013
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2010/octobre/15/unbelievable/index.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2010/octobre/15/unbelievable/index.html
index cb8ccef5..6cdb4bb1 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2010/octobre/15/unbelievable/index.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2010/octobre/15/unbelievable/index.html
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
     <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2010-10-15T20:30:00">
-                Published: ven. 15 octobre 2010
+                Published: 15 octobre 2010
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2010/octobre/20/oh-yeah/index.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2010/octobre/20/oh-yeah/index.html
index c42bce5d..233df239 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2010/octobre/20/oh-yeah/index.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2010/octobre/20/oh-yeah/index.html
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
     <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2010-10-20T10:14:00">
-                Published: mer. 20 octobre 2010
+                Published: 20 octobre 2010
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2011/avril/20/a-markdown-powered-article/index.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2011/avril/20/a-markdown-powered-article/index.html
index 49cc6078..aa4d254f 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2011/avril/20/a-markdown-powered-article/index.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2011/avril/20/a-markdown-powered-article/index.html
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
     <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2011-04-20T00:00:00">
-                Published: mer. 20 avril 2011
+                Published: 20 avril 2011
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2011/février/17/article-1/index.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2011/février/17/article-1/index.html
index 8029e585..e9c86a97 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2011/février/17/article-1/index.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2011/février/17/article-1/index.html
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
     <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2011-02-17T00:00:00">
-                Published: jeu. 17 février 2011
+                Published: 17 février 2011
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2011/février/17/article-2/index.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2011/février/17/article-2/index.html
index ca6aaaf3..8724d7c2 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2011/février/17/article-2/index.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2011/février/17/article-2/index.html
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
     <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2011-02-17T00:00:00">
-                Published: jeu. 17 février 2011
+                Published: 17 février 2011
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2011/février/17/article-3/index.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2011/février/17/article-3/index.html
index 4f255f4f..c14b537d 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2011/février/17/article-3/index.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2011/février/17/article-3/index.html
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
     <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2011-02-17T00:00:00">
-                Published: jeu. 17 février 2011
+                Published: 17 février 2011
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2012/février/29/second-article/index.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2012/février/29/second-article/index.html
index 46b07717..598bf797 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2012/février/29/second-article/index.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2012/février/29/second-article/index.html
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
     <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2012-02-29T00:00:00">
-                Published: mer. 29 février 2012
+                Published: 29 février 2012
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2012/novembre/30/filename_metadata-example/index.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2012/novembre/30/filename_metadata-example/index.html
index 0d021cde..66339175 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2012/novembre/30/filename_metadata-example/index.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/posts/2012/novembre/30/filename_metadata-example/index.html
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
     <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2012-11-30T00:00:00">
-                Published: ven. 30 novembre 2012
+                Published: 30 novembre 2012
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/second-article-fr.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/second-article-fr.html
index 2798c94b..eb2225d9 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/second-article-fr.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/second-article-fr.html
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
     <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2012-02-29T00:00:00">
-                Published: mer. 29 février 2012
+                Published: 29 février 2012
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/tag/bar.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/tag/bar.html
index 8a65a834..a8e3bd7a 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/tag/bar.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/tag/bar.html
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
                     <h1 class="entry-title"><a href="../posts/2012/février/29/second-article/">Second article</a></h1>
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2012-02-29T00:00:00">
-                Published: mer. 29 février 2012
+                Published: 29 février 2012
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
@@ -61,11 +61,11 @@
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2010-12-02T10:14:00">
-                Published: jeu. 02 décembre 2010
+                Published: 02 décembre 2010
         </abbr>
 		<br />
         <abbr class="modified" title="2013-11-17T23:29:00">
-                Updated: dim. 17 novembre 2013
+                Updated: 17 novembre 2013
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ as well as <strong>inline markup</strong>.</p>
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2010-10-20T10:14:00">
-                Published: mer. 20 octobre 2010
+                Published: 20 octobre 2010
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/tag/baz.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/tag/baz.html
index 52467abb..77e09faf 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/tag/baz.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/tag/baz.html
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
     <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2010-03-14T00:00:00">
-                Published: dim. 14 mars 2010
+                Published: 14 mars 2010
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/tag/foo.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/tag/foo.html
index 87cb4ec5..3c238811 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/tag/foo.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/tag/foo.html
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
                     <h1 class="entry-title"><a href="../posts/2012/février/29/second-article/">Second article</a></h1>
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2012-02-29T00:00:00">
-                Published: mer. 29 février 2012
+                Published: 29 février 2012
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
@@ -61,11 +61,11 @@
                 <div class="entry-content">
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2010-12-02T10:14:00">
-                Published: jeu. 02 décembre 2010
+                Published: 02 décembre 2010
         </abbr>
 		<br />
         <abbr class="modified" title="2013-11-17T23:29:00">
-                Updated: dim. 17 novembre 2013
+                Updated: 17 novembre 2013
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/tag/foobar.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/tag/foobar.html
index 0e5414b0..e30c4906 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/tag/foobar.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/tag/foobar.html
@@ -34,11 +34,11 @@
                     <h1 class="entry-title"><a href="../posts/2010/décembre/02/this-is-a-super-article/">This is a super article !</a></h1>
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2010-12-02T10:14:00">
-                Published: jeu. 02 décembre 2010
+                Published: 02 décembre 2010
         </abbr>
 		<br />
         <abbr class="modified" title="2013-11-17T23:29:00">
-                Updated: dim. 17 novembre 2013
+                Updated: 17 novembre 2013
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/tag/yeah.html b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/tag/yeah.html
index a8fe6f51..6754ecf6 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/tag/yeah.html
+++ b/pelican/tests/output/custom_locale/tag/yeah.html
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
                     <h1 class="entry-title"><a href="../posts/2010/octobre/20/oh-yeah/">Oh yeah !</a></h1>
 <footer class="post-info">
         <abbr class="published" title="2010-10-20T10:14:00">
-                Published: mer. 20 octobre 2010
+                Published: 20 octobre 2010
         </abbr>
 
         <address class="vcard author">
diff --git a/pelican/tests/test_pelican.py b/pelican/tests/test_pelican.py
index cfae594a..bad73569 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/test_pelican.py
+++ b/pelican/tests/test_pelican.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ OUTPUT_PATH = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(CURRENT_DIR, 'output'))
 
 INPUT_PATH = os.path.join(SAMPLES_PATH, "content")
 SAMPLE_CONFIG = os.path.join(SAMPLES_PATH, "pelican.conf.py")
-SAMPLE_FR_CONFIG = os.path.join(SAMPLES_PATH, "pelican_FR.conf.py")
+SAMPLE_FR_CONFIG = os.path.join(SAMPLES_PATH, "pelican.conf_FR.py")
 
 
 def recursiveDiff(dcmp):
diff --git a/pelican/utils.py b/pelican/utils.py
index 586d85ff..5e4822ba 100644
--- a/pelican/utils.py
+++ b/pelican/utils.py
@@ -94,12 +94,18 @@ class DateFormatter(object):
         self.locale = locale.setlocale(locale.LC_TIME)
 
     def __call__(self, date, date_format):
-        old_locale = locale.setlocale(locale.LC_TIME)
+        old_lc_time = locale.setlocale(locale.LC_TIME)
+        old_lc_ctype = locale.setlocale(locale.LC_CTYPE)
+
         locale.setlocale(locale.LC_TIME, self.locale)
+        # on OSX, encoding from LC_CTYPE determines the unicode output in PY3
+        # make sure it's same as LC_TIME
+        locale.setlocale(locale.LC_CTYPE, self.locale)
 
         formatted = strftime(date, date_format)
 
-        locale.setlocale(locale.LC_TIME, old_locale)
+        locale.setlocale(locale.LC_TIME, old_lc_time)
+        locale.setlocale(locale.LC_CTYPE, old_lc_ctype)
         return formatted
 
 
diff --git a/samples/pelican_FR.conf.py b/samples/pelican.conf_FR.py
similarity index 98%
rename from samples/pelican_FR.conf.py
rename to samples/pelican.conf_FR.py
index 1f6aaaa1..0c4ec60d 100644
--- a/samples/pelican_FR.conf.py
+++ b/samples/pelican.conf_FR.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ REVERSE_CATEGORY_ORDER = True
 LOCALE = "fr_FR.UTF-8"
 DEFAULT_PAGINATION = 4
 DEFAULT_DATE = (2012, 3, 2, 14, 1, 1)
+DEFAULT_DATE_FORMAT = '%d %B %Y'
 
 ARTICLE_URL = 'posts/{date:%Y}/{date:%B}/{date:%d}/{slug}/'
 ARTICLE_SAVE_AS = ARTICLE_URL + 'index.html'