Dates can also be formatted in 'plain english' : DATE_FORMAT « Date Time Functions « MySQL Tutorial

1. MySQL Tutorial
2. Date Time Functions
3. DATE_FORMAT

DATE_FORMAT() only works with datatypes that include the date, which inlcudes DATE, DATETIME and TIMESTAMP.

There is a similar function called TIME_FORMAT() that works with TIME as well as DATETIME and TIMESTAMP.

mysql>
mysql> CREATE TABLE Employee(
    ->     id            int,
    ->     first_name    VARCHAR(15),
    ->     last_name     VARCHAR(15),
    ->     start_date    DATE,
    ->     end_date      DATE,
    ->     salary        FLOAT(8,2),
    ->     city          VARCHAR(10),
    ->     description   VARCHAR(15)
    -> );
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.03 sec)

mysql>
mysql>
mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date,   salary,  City,       Description)
    ->              values (1,'Jason',    'Martin',  '19960725',  '20060725', 1234.56, 'Toronto',  'Programmer');
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec)

mysql>
mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date,   salary,  City,       Description)
    ->               values(2,'Alison',   'Mathews',  '19760321', '19860221', 6661.78, 'Vancouver','Tester');
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec)

mysql>
mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date,   salary,  City,       Description)
    ->               values(3,'James',    'Smith',    '19781212', '19900315', 6544.78, 'Vancouver','Tester');
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec)

mysql>
mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date,   salary,  City,       Description)
    ->               values(4,'Celia',    'Rice',     '19821024', '19990421', 2344.78, 'Vancouver','Manager');
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec)

mysql>
mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date,   salary,  City,       Description)
    ->               values(5,'Robert',   'Black',    '19840115', '19980808', 2334.78, 'Vancouver','Tester');
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.02 sec)

mysql>
mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date,   salary,  City,       Description)
    ->               values(6,'Linda',    'Green',    '19870730', '19960104', 4322.78,'New York',  'Tester');
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec)

mysql>
mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date,   salary,  City,       Description)
    ->               values(7,'David',    'Larry',    '19901231', '19980212', 7897.78,'New York',  'Manager');
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec)

mysql>
mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date,   salary,  City,       Description)
    ->               values(8,'James',    'Cat',     '19960917',  '20020415', 1232.78,'Vancouver', 'Tester');
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec)

mysql>
mysql> select * from Employee;
+------+------------+-----------+------------+------------+---------+-----------+-------------+
| id   | first_name | last_name | start_date | end_date   | salary  | city      | description |
+------+------------+-----------+------------+------------+---------+-----------+-------------+
|    1 | Jason      | Martin    | 1996-07-25 | 2006-07-25 | 1234.56 | Toronto   | Programmer  |
|    2 | Alison     | Mathews   | 1976-03-21 | 1986-02-21 | 6661.78 | Vancouver | Tester      |
|    3 | James      | Smith     | 1978-12-12 | 1990-03-15 | 6544.78 | Vancouver | Tester      |
|    4 | Celia      | Rice      | 1982-10-24 | 1999-04-21 | 2344.78 | Vancouver | Manager     |
|    5 | Robert     | Black     | 1984-01-15 | 1998-08-08 | 2334.78 | Vancouver | Tester      |
|    6 | Linda      | Green     | 1987-07-30 | 1996-01-04 | 4322.78 | New York  | Tester      |
|    7 | David      | Larry     | 1990-12-31 | 1998-02-12 | 7897.78 | New York  | Manager     |
|    8 | James      | Cat       | 1996-09-17 | 2002-04-15 | 1232.78 | Vancouver | Tester      |
+------+------------+-----------+------------+------------+---------+-----------+-------------+
8 rows in set (0.02 sec)

mysql>
mysql> SELECT first_name, DATE_FORMAT(start_date, '%W the %D of %M %Y')
    -> FROM employee;
+------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| first_name | DATE_FORMAT(start_date, '%W the %D of %M %Y') |
+------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| Jason      | Thursday the 25th of July 1996                |
| Alison     | Sunday the 21st of March 1976                 |
| James      | Tuesday the 12th of December 1978             |
| Celia      | Sunday the 24th of October 1982               |
| Robert     | Sunday the 15th of January 1984               |
| Linda      | Thursday the 30th of July 1987                |
| David      | Monday the 31st of December 1990              |
| James      | Tuesday the 17th of September 1996            |
+------------+-----------------------------------------------+
8 rows in set (0.00 sec)

mysql>
mysql> drop table Employee;
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.00 sec)

mysql>
mysql>