read_date

# File activerecord/lib/active_record/attribute_assignment.rb, line 165
      def read_date
        return if blank_date_parameter?
        set_values = values.values_at(1,2,3)
        begin
          Date.new(*set_values)
        rescue ArgumentError # if Date.new raises an exception on an invalid date
          instantiate_time_object(set_values).to_date # we instantiate Time object and convert it back to a date thus using Time's logic in handling invalid dates
        end
      end