dates

Dates are the fruit of the date palm, Phoenix dactylifera, common in arid regions of the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of South Asia. The fruit is oval to oblong, 3 to 7 cm long, and ripens from yellow to amber to dark brown. Dried dates are soft and very sweet, eaten whole or used in desserts and cooking. Common varieties include Deglet Noor and Medjool, which differ in size, moisture, and flavor. Nutritionally, dates supply carbohydrates, fiber, potassium, and small amounts of protein and micronutrients; they store well when dried and can be rehydrated for cooking.

Date palm cultivation requires hot, arid climates with a long growing season. Production involves irrigation, thinning, and often hand pollination. Harvest occurs when the fruit reaches full color and firmness; dates may be dried further or sold fresh. They are a significant agricultural product in several countries and appear in religious, festive, and everyday foods.

A date, in calendar use, is a specific day defined by year, month, and day. The Gregorian calendar is widely used today. Dates are written in formats such as YYYY-MM-DD (ISO 8601). Leap years insert February 29. Historical dating varies by culture and era, but AD/CE and similar systems are commonly used in modern contexts.