NATIONAL KNOCK KNOCK JOKE DAY
Share this article
Text Size
NATIONAL KNOCK KNOCK JOKE DAY
Laugh out loud on National Knock Knock Joke Day! October 31st encourages telling a few funny knock knock jokes while going door to door. And the day is for jokesters of all ages, too.
#KnockKnockJokeDay
At a very young age, children often learn to tell knock-knock jokes as one of their first types of jokes. They love making up knock-knock jokes to tell their family and friends because they enjoy the laughs from adults. As we grow older, we realize telling a knock-knock joke offers a tiny, safe break from the serious reality of the world. It provides a powerful and immediate sense of reward, and is one of the most effective tools humans have for connecting with one another.
Telling a knock-knock joke requires the listener to actively participate in the joke, which is probably why kids love to tell jokes to grown-ups. Even though we often see their jokes as "silly", kids love to surprise us with a "punny" answers we didn't see coming. The result--building bonds between adults and kids that will last a lifetime.
A History of the Knock Knock Joke
1929: The Game of Buff is a children's game that was played when a stick was thumped on the ground. The game seems to be the origins of the modern day knock-knock joke format:
Game of Buff
Knock! Knock!
Who’s There?
Buff.
What says, Buff?
Buff says Buff to all his men, and I say Buff to you again.
1934: The standard knock-knock joke format was used in a newspaper humor. The joke format found in the column marks the transition of the knock knock joke into American culture as a form of comedic wordplay. The craze for these jokes exploded shortly afterward in 1936.
Early Knock Knock Joke
Knock! Knock!
Who’s there?
Rufus.
Rufus Who?
Rufus the most important part of your house.
Current Knock Knock Joke
1936: Likely the beginning of popularity for knock-knock jokes.
Knock! Knock!
Who's there?
Witch.
Witch who?
Witch ever one of you has the candy, open up!
Knock-knock jokes faded a bit after the 1930s craze. However, they made a comeback during the 1960s and early 1970s when the late night television show Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-in Show featured the jokes as part of the programing. Since then, knock knock jokes have been a part of children's humor.
5 KNOCK KNOCK JOKE DAY CELEBRATIONS
Take turns telling knock-knock jokes with your kids. Make up new ones or tell some old classics. Trade them back and forth and let the giggles ensue. Laughter is some of the best medicine you can share.
Have a knock-knock joke-writing contest. Take videos and share them.
Visit fatherly.com to find some funny ones for kids.
Educators, visit the National Day Calendar® Classroom for projects, puzzles, and more designed to Celebrate Every Day® with your students!
Tell your best knock-knock jokes on social media and use #KnockKnockJokeDay to share the laughs.
NATIONAL KNOCK KNOCK JOKE DAY HISTORY
National Day Calendar® continues researching the origin of this fun day.