diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 76b7fdd..22bdbc6 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -48,6 +48,10 @@ coverage/
 *.tmp
 *.temp
 
+# Backup and test directories
+backups/
+test-archiver/
+
 # Keep directory structure
 !storage/events/active/.gitkeep
 !storage/events/archived/.gitkeep
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/publicSettings.js b/backend/src/routes/publicSettings.js
index 1a8c5ba..388268f 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/publicSettings.js
+++ b/backend/src/routes/publicSettings.js
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ router.get('/', async (req, res) => {
       theme_config: settingsObject.theme_config || null,
       default_language: settingsObject.general_default_language || 'en',
       enable_analytics: settingsObject.general_enable_analytics !== false,
+      general_date_format: settingsObject.general_date_format || 'PPP',
       enable_recaptcha: settingsObject.security_enable_recaptcha === true || settingsObject.security_enable_recaptcha === 'true',
       recaptcha_site_key: settingsObject.security_recaptcha_site_key || null,
       maintenance_mode: settingsObject.general_maintenance_mode === true || settingsObject.general_maintenance_mode === 'true',
diff --git a/frontend/src/config/api.ts b/frontend/src/config/api.ts
index 1539c44..f565956 100644
--- a/frontend/src/config/api.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/config/api.ts
@@ -83,8 +83,8 @@ api.interceptors.response.use(
     }
     
     if (error.response?.status === 401) {
-      // Check if it's an admin route
-      const isAdminRoute = error.config?.url?.includes('/admin');
+      // Check if it's an admin route (but not public endpoints)
+      const isAdminRoute = error.config?.url?.includes('/admin') && !error.config?.url?.includes('/public/');
       const currentPath = window.location.pathname;
       
       if (isAdminRoute) {
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/useLocalizedDate.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/useLocalizedDate.ts
index 4ba5af3..1f16d64 100644
--- a/frontend/src/hooks/useLocalizedDate.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/useLocalizedDate.ts
@@ -2,16 +2,17 @@ import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
 import { format as dateFnsFormat, formatDistanceToNow as dateFnsFormatDistanceToNow } from 'date-fns';
 import { de, enUS } from 'date-fns/locale';
 import { useQuery } from '@tanstack/react-query';
-import { settingsService } from '../services/settings.service';
+import { publicSettingsService } from '../services/publicSettings.service';
 
 export const useLocalizedDate = () => {
   const { i18n } = useTranslation();
   
-  // Fetch admin settings to get the date format
+  // Fetch public settings to get the date format
   const { data: settings } = useQuery({
-    queryKey: ['admin-settings-general'],
-    queryFn: () => settingsService.getSettingsByType('general'),
+    queryKey: ['public-settings'],
+    queryFn: () => publicSettingsService.getPublicSettings(),
     staleTime: 5 * 60 * 1000, // Cache for 5 minutes
+    retry: 1, // Only retry once to avoid blocking the UI
   });
   
   const getLocale = () => {
diff --git a/frontend/src/services/publicSettings.service.ts b/frontend/src/services/publicSettings.service.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eba2821
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/services/publicSettings.service.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import { api } from '../config/api';
+
+export interface PublicSettings {
+  branding_company_name: string;
+  branding_company_tagline: string;
+  branding_support_email: string;
+  branding_footer_text: string;
+  branding_watermark_enabled: boolean;
+  branding_watermark_logo_url: string;
+  branding_watermark_position: 'bottom-right' | 'bottom-left' | 'top-right' | 'top-left' | 'center';
+  branding_watermark_opacity: number;
+  branding_watermark_size: number;
+  branding_favicon_url: string;
+  branding_logo_url: string;
+  theme_config: any;
+  default_language: string;
+  enable_analytics: boolean;
+  general_date_format: string;
+  enable_recaptcha: boolean;
+  recaptcha_site_key: string | null;
+  maintenance_mode: boolean;
+  umami_enabled: boolean;
+  umami_url: string | null;
+  umami_website_id: string | null;
+  umami_share_url: string | null;
+}
+
+export const publicSettingsService = {
+  // Get public settings (no authentication required)
+  async getPublicSettings(): Promise<PublicSettings> {
+    const response = await api.get<PublicSettings>('/public/settings');
+    return response.data;
+  }
+};
\ No newline at end of file