Knock down ginger

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Knock down ginger is a children's game played in many cultures. It has many variations, one of which involves knocking on the door of, or pressing the doorbell of, the victim and then running away before they get to the door. In the UK, the doors of council estates were once stained ginger, hence the name.^{[citation needed]}

One of the variations known as "sour puss" involves pressing the doorbell of the victim, and then saying "sour puss" several times when they open the door.

Other names: A common name appears to be 'Knock a'door Run,' however, some have found the need to shorten the name of the age-old game to 'Knock. Door. Run.' Ding Dong Ditch and Ding Dong Dash. Knick Knacking/Knocking, Knock and Run in parts of the Republic of Ireland, Knicky Knocky Nine Doors (or Knicky Knicky Nine Doors) (Canada). Also known in the north east of England (Sunderland) as Knocky Nine Doors (as the aim of the 'game' was to knock on every ninth door and try to get to the end of the street before anyone answered and caught you). In parts of North West England, including Ulverston, the game is known as Knock and Bomb (bomb meaning run very fast).

Knock down ginger was also the name of the game show segment in the short lived 1989 television comedy chat show One hour with Jonathan Ross. The segment was notable for introducing comedians Vic Reeves, Bob Mortimer, Charlie Higson and others to television. The comedians would be behind a number of doors and the contestants would knock on the doors and then face some questions from them.

[edit] Pop Culture

In the movie Billy Madison, Billy and his friends leave a flaming bag of feces on a doorstep of an elderly man.

Ding Dong Ditch is also used in a Windex commercial where one of the crows plays the prank on a man sitting on his patio. While he is answering the door, another crow closes the sliding glass door leading to the patio. The man walks back to the patio, and he walks into the door, because Windex "leaves a streak-free shine."

In the cartoon Rocko's Modern Life, the characters Heffer and Filbert repeatedly pull this prank in one episode until they finally send a victim into a rage and pay the price for their actions.

In the Ed, Edd n Eddy episode "The Ed Touchables", Eddy plays ding dong ditch with Edd. When Edd answers the door the first time, no one is there. The second time, Edd pushes the doorbell button to make sure he is not hearing things. The third time, Edd gets hit with a bucket of water. The fourth time, Edd gets a fish thrown in his face. Finally, Eddy appears at the door the fifth time. Edd asks Eddy if he was the one ringing his doorbell, to which Eddy replies, "Who, me? Nah!"

In the Beavis and Butt-head episode Ding Dong Ditch, Beavis and Butt-head attempt this prank with various results. They run away after the person answers the door and even run and hide when not ringing the doorbell.

Another example of this prank can also be seen in the movie Dennis The Menace. The movie also showed a method of retaliation to deter pranksters (taping a thumbtack to the doorbell).