diff --git a/tests/examples/shims/_date.lua b/tests/examples/shims/_date.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8236b327
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/examples/shims/_date.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+local source_date_epoch = os.getenv("SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH")
+if source_date_epoch then
+    local old_osdate = os.date
+    os.date = function(format, timestamp) -- luacheck: ignore
+        if timestamp then
+            return old_osdate(format, timestamp)
+        end
+        format = "!" .. format
+        return old_osdate(format, source_date_epoch)
+    end
+end
diff --git a/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/fn_embed_cell.lua b/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/fn_embed_cell.lua
index 91155e8c..0a56d3c0 100644
--- a/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/fn_embed_cell.lua
+++ b/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/fn_embed_cell.lua
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ local wibox     = require("wibox") --DOC_HIDE
 local gears     = require("gears") --DOC_HIDE
 local beautiful = require( "beautiful" ) --DOC_HIDE
 local Pango     = require("lgi").Pango --DOC_HIDE
+require("_date") --DOC_HIDE
 
 -- Beautiful fake get_font --DOC_HIDE
 local f = Pango.FontDescription.from_string("monospace 10") --DOC_HIDE
diff --git a/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/font.lua b/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/font.lua
index 5c42571f..35542121 100644
--- a/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/font.lua
+++ b/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/font.lua
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ local parent    = ... --DOC_HIDE
 local wibox     = require("wibox") --DOC_HIDE
 local beautiful = require( "beautiful" ) --DOC_HIDE
 local Pango     = require("lgi").Pango --DOC_HIDE
+require("_date") --DOC_HIDE
 
 -- Beautiful fake get_font --DOC_HIDE
 local f = Pango.FontDescription.from_string("sans 12") --DOC_HIDE
diff --git a/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/long_weekdays.lua b/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/long_weekdays.lua
index a4a671bc..cad855c8 100644
--- a/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/long_weekdays.lua
+++ b/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/long_weekdays.lua
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ local parent    = ... --DOC_HIDE
 local wibox     = require("wibox") --DOC_HIDE
 local beautiful = require( "beautiful" ) --DOC_HIDE
 local Pango     = require("lgi").Pango --DOC_HIDE
+require("_date") --DOC_HIDE
 
 -- Beautiful fake get_font --DOC_HIDE
 local f = Pango.FontDescription.from_string("monospace 10") --DOC_HIDE
diff --git a/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/month.lua b/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/month.lua
index 38167f28..0a77a343 100644
--- a/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/month.lua
+++ b/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/month.lua
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ local parent    = ... --DOC_HIDE_ALL
 local wibox     = require("wibox") --DOC_HIDE
 local beautiful = require( "beautiful" ) --DOC_HIDE
 local Pango     = require("lgi").Pango --DOC_HIDE
+require("_date") --DOC_HIDE
 
 -- Beautiful fake get_font --DOC_HIDE
 local f = Pango.FontDescription.from_string("monospace 10") --DOC_HIDE
diff --git a/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/start_sunday.lua b/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/start_sunday.lua
index 346b587b..3f21ee6e 100644
--- a/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/start_sunday.lua
+++ b/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/start_sunday.lua
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ local parent    = ... --DOC_HIDE
 local wibox     = require("wibox") --DOC_HIDE
 local beautiful = require( "beautiful" ) --DOC_HIDE
 local Pango     = require("lgi").Pango --DOC_HIDE
+require("_date") --DOC_HIDE
 
 -- Beautiful fake get_font --DOC_HIDE
 local f = Pango.FontDescription.from_string("monospace 10") --DOC_HIDE
diff --git a/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/week_numbers.lua b/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/week_numbers.lua
index b319a756..5d4a163a 100644
--- a/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/week_numbers.lua
+++ b/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/week_numbers.lua
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ local parent    = ... --DOC_HIDE
 local wibox     = require("wibox") --DOC_HIDE
 local beautiful = require( "beautiful" ) --DOC_HIDE
 local Pango     = require("lgi").Pango --DOC_HIDE
+require("_date") --DOC_HIDE
 
 -- Beautiful fake get_font --DOC_HIDE
 local f = Pango.FontDescription.from_string("monospace 10") --DOC_HIDE
diff --git a/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/year.lua b/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/year.lua
index 4274a0e2..dbb5a8a1 100644
--- a/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/year.lua
+++ b/tests/examples/wibox/widget/calendar/year.lua
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ local parent    = ... --DOC_HIDE
 local wibox     = require("wibox") --DOC_HIDE
 local beautiful = require( "beautiful" ) --DOC_HIDE
 local Pango     = require("lgi").Pango --DOC_HIDE
+require("_date") --DOC_HIDE
 
 -- Beautiful fake get_font --DOC_HIDE
 local f = Pango.FontDescription.from_string("monospace 10") --DOC_HIDE
diff --git a/tests/examples/wibox/widget/defaults/calendar.lua b/tests/examples/wibox/widget/defaults/calendar.lua
index ea57daad..67e8b487 100644
--- a/tests/examples/wibox/widget/defaults/calendar.lua
+++ b/tests/examples/wibox/widget/defaults/calendar.lua
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ local parent    = ... --DOC_HIDE
 local wibox     = require("wibox") --DOC_HIDE
 local beautiful = require( "beautiful" ) --DOC_HIDE
 local Pango     = require("lgi").Pango --DOC_HIDE
+require("_date") --DOC_HIDE
 
 -- Beautiful fake get_font --DOC_HIDE
 local f = Pango.FontDescription.from_string("monospace 10") --DOC_HIDE