diff --git a/rendercv/__init__.py b/rendercv/__init__.py
index 934d9a33..419cd103 100644
--- a/rendercv/__init__.py
+++ b/rendercv/__init__.py
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@ as a PDF from a YAML file with Markdown syntax support and complete control over
 $\\LaTeX$ code.
 """
 
-__version__ = "1.17"
+__version__ = "1.18"
diff --git a/rendercv/data/models/locale_catalog.py b/rendercv/data/models/locale_catalog.py
index 057c0f4e..743a3958 100644
--- a/rendercv/data/models/locale_catalog.py
+++ b/rendercv/data/models/locale_catalog.py
@@ -16,8 +16,6 @@ class LocaleCatalog(RenderCVBaseModelWithoutExtraKeys):
     updates the `locale_catalog` dictionary.
     """
 
-    model_config = pydantic.ConfigDict(validate_default=True)
-
     phone_number_format: Optional[Literal["national", "international", "E164"]] = (
         pydantic.Field(
             default="national",
diff --git a/rendercv/data/models/rendercv_data_model.py b/rendercv/data/models/rendercv_data_model.py
index 1cd64116..e098e59c 100644
--- a/rendercv/data/models/rendercv_data_model.py
+++ b/rendercv/data/models/rendercv_data_model.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class RenderCVDataModel(RenderCVBaseModelWithoutExtraKeys):
         ),
     )
     locale_catalog: LocaleCatalog = pydantic.Field(
-        default=LocaleCatalog(),
+        default=None,  # type: ignore
         title="Locale Catalog",
         description=(
             "The locale catalog of the CV to allow the support of multiple languages."
@@ -65,12 +65,15 @@ class RenderCVDataModel(RenderCVBaseModelWithoutExtraKeys):
 
         return model
 
-    @pydantic.field_validator("locale_catalog")
+    @pydantic.field_validator("locale_catalog", mode="before")
     @classmethod
-    def update_locale_catalog(cls, _) -> LocaleCatalog:
+    def update_locale_catalog(cls, value) -> LocaleCatalog:
         """Update the output folder name in the RenderCV settings."""
         # Somehow, we need this for `test_if_local_catalog_resets` to pass.
-        return LocaleCatalog()
+        if value is None:
+            return LocaleCatalog()
+
+        return value
 
 
 rendercv_data_model_fields = tuple(RenderCVDataModel.model_fields.keys())
diff --git a/tests/test_renderer.py b/tests/test_renderer.py
index 853efb8b..d688cba7 100644
--- a/tests/test_renderer.py
+++ b/tests/test_renderer.py
@@ -774,3 +774,84 @@ def test_render_pdf_invalid_latex_file(tmp_path):
 
     with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
         renderer.render_a_pdf_from_latex(latex_file_path)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "theme_name",
+    data.available_themes,
+)
+@time_machine.travel("2024-01-01")
+def test_locale_catalog(
+    theme_name,
+    tmp_path,
+):
+    cv = data.CurriculumVitae(
+        name="Test",
+        sections={
+            "Normal Entries": [
+                data.NormalEntry(
+                    name="Test",
+                    start_date="2024-01-01",
+                    end_date="present",
+                ),
+            ]
+        },
+    )
+
+    # "The style of the date. The following placeholders can be"
+    # " used:\n-FULL_MONTH_NAME: Full name of the month\n- MONTH_ABBREVIATION:"
+    # " Abbreviation of the month\n- MONTH: Month as a number\n-"
+    # " MONTH_IN_TWO_DIGITS: Month as a number in two digits\n- YEAR: Year as a"
+    # " number\n- YEAR_IN_TWO_DIGITS: Year as a number in two digits\nThe"
+    # ' default value is "MONTH_ABBREVIATION YEAR".'
+    locale_catalog = data.LocaleCatalog(
+        abbreviations_for_months=[
+            "Abbreviation of Jan",
+            "Feb",
+            "Mar",
+            "Apr",
+            "May",
+            "Jun",
+            "Jul",
+            "Aug",
+            "Sep",
+            "Oct",
+            "Nov",
+            "Dec",
+        ],
+        full_names_of_months=[
+            "Full name of January",
+            "February",
+            "March",
+            "April",
+            "May",
+            "June",
+            "July",
+            "August",
+            "September",
+            "October",
+            "November",
+            "December",
+        ],
+        present="this is present",
+        to="this is to",
+        date_style=(
+            "FULL_MONTH_NAME MONTH_ABBREVIATION MONTH MONTH_IN_TWO_DIGITS YEAR"
+            " YEAR_IN_TWO_DIGITS"
+        ),
+    )
+
+    data_model = data.RenderCVDataModel(
+        cv=cv,
+        design={"theme": theme_name},
+        locale_catalog=locale_catalog,
+    )
+
+    latex_file = renderer.create_a_latex_file(data_model, tmp_path)
+
+    latex_file_contents = latex_file.read_text()
+
+    assert "Full name of January" in latex_file_contents
+    assert "Abbreviation of Jan" in latex_file_contents
+    assert "this is present" in latex_file_contents
+    assert "this is to" in latex_file_contents