Sts. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, August 31
Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy member of the council, asked Pilate for the body of Jesus and laid it in his own new tomb. Nicodemus, who had come to Jesus by night, brought spices to anoint him. They are remembered together on this day.
August 31 has no celebration on the General Roman Calendar, so this page follows the Roman Martyrology, which remembers Saints Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus on this date.
Other saints on August 31
- St. Raymond Nonnatus, Mercedarian (1240)
- St. Aidan of Lindisfarne, bishop (651)
Name days on August 31
In countries that keep name days, August 31 is the day for people named Nicodemus and Aidan. These names come from the same saint, as variants, nicknames or forms used in other languages.
| Name | Feast day |
|---|---|
| Nicodemus | August 31 |
| Aidan | August 31 |
August 31 on the calendar
August 31 is the 243rd day of the year (the 244th in a leap year), with 122 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday |
| 2027 | Tuesday |
| 2028 | Thursday |
| 2029 | Friday |
| 2030 | Saturday |
Keeping August 31
August 31 falls in summer. Since the general calendar has no celebration that day, the Mass is usually that of the weekday of the season, and the saint may be remembered in local calendars or in personal prayer. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival. If you know someone named Nicodemus and Aidan, it is a good day to send a note.
Saints of the week around August 31
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| August 28 | St. Augustine |
| August 29 | Passion of St. John the Baptist |
| August 30 | St. Jeanne Jugan |
| September 1 | St. Giles |
| September 2 | Bl. Ingrid of Skänninge |
| September 3 | St. Gregory the Great |
The day before, August 30, is the day of St. Jeanne Jugan. The day after, September 1, belongs to St. Giles. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.