Paastust

Paastust is an Estonian noun referring to the practice or period of fasting. Derived from paast, fasting, it is used to describe abstaining from food or certain luxuries for a defined time, usually for religious, spiritual, or health reasons. In religious contexts, paastust is commonly associated with Christian fasting traditions, such as Lent, and may be described in sermons, catechesis, or doctrinal texts as a discipline of self-denial, prayer, and almsgiving. In secular usage, the term can appear in discussions of dieting, wellness, or medical guidance where fasting is part of a program, for example intermittent fasting or therapeutic fasts. The exact interpretation and intensity of paastust vary by tradition, individual practice, and cultural setting; it can range from partial restriction of particular foods to full abstention for a prescribed number of days.

In Estonia, paastust has historical roots in Christian communities and is occasionally referenced in historical records and religious education. In contemporary discourse, the term is most likely to appear in formal writing, dictionaries, or religious publications, rather than everyday speech. The term is closely related to other Estonian expressions for fasting and is translated into English as "the fasting" or "the act/period of fasting."