the_date() returns “%A %e %B %Y”

hi,

I’m showing posts in my sidebar using the sidebar.php given below. Title and excerpt are ok but the date gives “%A %e %B %Y”.
Any suggestion/pointer?

Thanks

<div id="sidebar">
<div class="title">News</div>
<?php
 $postslist = get_posts('numberposts=5');
 foreach ($postslist as $post) :
    setup_postdata($post);
 ?>
 <div>

 <?php the_date(); ?>
 <br />
 <?php the_title(); ?>
 <?php the_excerpt(); ?>
 </div>
 <?php endforeach; ?>

</div>