In Britain we usually write "2 December" or "2nd December" even though it's spoken as "the second of December". The words are often slurred together, "the second've December" or "th'second've December"; "the thirtieth've April".
Actually pronouncing it carefully with a clear "of" emphasizes the date, either for clarity or because it's otherwise important.
Actually pronouncing it carefully with a clear "of" emphasizes the date, either for clarity or because it's otherwise important.