Split xml file based on Condition

Below i have an xml file, in this file, i need to split this xml file into multiple xml files based on date column value, suppose i have 10 records with 3 different dates then all unique date records should go into each file . for ex here i have a file with three dates my output should get 3 files while each file containing all records of unique date data. I didn't get any idea to proceed on this, thats the reason am not posting any code.Needed urgently please.

<XML>
<rootNode>
<childnode>
<date>2012-12-01</date>
<name>SSS</name>
</childnode>
<childnode>
<date>2012-12-01</date>
<name>SSS</name>
</childnode>
<childnode>
<date>2012-12-02</date>
<name>SSS</name>
</childnode>
<childnode>
<date>2012-12-03</date>
<name>SSS</name>
</childnode>
</XML>
</rootNode>