roman numerals

May be this question is not directly related to openpublish, but since I am considering to use OP for a non-english site, I am posting it here.

If I want to translate the date (months, numerals), do I need to hack the template files or there is any other way around. I know a little bit of php (through trial and error and by looking at existing php file). I tried to translate the months (Jan, Feb... etc) via translation module, but that does not translate the roman numerals.