1. (noun) An unofficial, unique holiday celebrated on May 30th each year. Participants go outdoors and shout "Hey!" into the surrounding area, simulating a dog bark but replacing the traditional "woof" with a human "Hey!". This action is not meant to mimic dogs, but rather, serves as a distinctive, playful, and quirky form of human communication.

2. Participants, sometimes referred to as "Hey-barkers", do not simply shout into the wind; they expectantly wait for returning "Heys" from others in the vicinity, creating a sort of call-and-response exchange. The tradition has taken root primarily due to the rise of social media trends, and it has since blossomed into a unique celebration of community, spontaneity, and humor.

Example of usage:

John (barking out from his backyard): "Hey! Hey!"

Neighbor: "What's going on, John?"

John: "Didn't you know? It's National Hey Day! I'm waiting for a returning 'Hey!'"

Neighbor (laughing): "Oh, right! Well, then, Hey! Hey!"
John (barking out from his backyard): "Hey! Hey!"

Neighbor: "What's going on, John?"

John: "Didn't you know? It's National Hey Day! I'm waiting for a returning 'Hey!'"

Neighbor (laughing): "Oh, right! Well, then, Hey! Hey!"
by Raul Terra May 31, 2023
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