diff --git a/src/cryogen_core/compiler.clj b/src/cryogen_core/compiler.clj
index 3c809d1..098ec67 100644
--- a/src/cryogen_core/compiler.clj
+++ b/src/cryogen_core/compiler.clj
@@ -102,7 +102,11 @@
   (let [{:keys [file-name page-meta content]} (page-content page config markup)]
     (merge
       (merge-meta-and-content file-name page-meta content)
-      (let [date (parse-post-date file-name (:post-date-format config))
+      (let [date (if (:date page-meta)
+                   (.parse (java.text.SimpleDateFormat.
+                            (:post-date-format config))
+                            (:date page-meta))
+                   (parse-post-date file-name (:post-date-format config)))
             archive-fmt (java.text.SimpleDateFormat. "yyyy MMMM" (java.util.Locale. "en"))
             formatted-group (.format archive-fmt date)]
         {:date                    date