Since your syntax indicates that you're using Microsoft Access, I'm going to move this thread from the Microsoft SQL Server forum to the Microsoft Access forum where you'll get better answers.
Dates are printed/displayed as characters, but they are stored internally as bit strings. The internal format of the date and the way that you're used to seeing it on the screen or paper have only a casual relationship. A date can be displayed using ISO, American, Hebrew, Arab, Italian, or other notations because the disply value is created from the internal bit value by an algorithm.
-PatP