Aastapäev

Aastapäev is the date on which a significant event occurred in a previous year, and it recurs annually on the same calendar day. The word is formed from aasta (year) and päev (day), highlighting the yearly repetition of that moment. Aastapäev is used to refer to anniversaries of various kinds, from personal milestones to organizational or historical events. It is distinct from a birthday (sünnipäev), which marks a person’s own birth year, whereas aastapäev marks the anniversary of an event.

In everyday Estonian usage, aastapäev commonly appears in phrases such as the a company’s or institution’s aastapäev (for example, a company celebrating its 25th aastapäev) or the aastapäev of a significant historical or organizational event. The numeral before aastapäev indicates how many years have passed since the event, such as the 10th, 25th, or 100th aastapäev. For national or public events, the term is often used alongside more specific names (for example, the theme of a particular anniversary or a commemorative program), while some anniversaries have their own established terms.

Cultural practice around aastapäevs varies by organization and occasion. Celebrations may include ceremonies, speeches, or publications reflecting on the event’s impact and history. While iseseisvuspäev or other fixed holidays convey national significance, aastapäev remains a flexible way to denote any anniversary of importance on a yearly cycle.