diff --git a/jrnl/Journal.py b/jrnl/Journal.py
index 1e8e905f..35f59f3a 100644
--- a/jrnl/Journal.py
+++ b/jrnl/Journal.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class Journal(object):
         self.config.update(kwargs)
 
         # Set up date parser
-        consts = pdt.Constants()
+        consts = pdt.Constants(usePyICU=False)
         consts.DOWParseStyle = -1  # "Monday" will be either today or the last Monday
         self.dateparse = pdt.Calendar(consts)
         self.key = None  # used to decrypt and encrypt the journal