The Reaping

> "*I protect Prim every way I can. But I am powerless against the reaping.*"
> ― Katniss Everdeen
>
>

**The reaping** is an event that takes place annually and is the starting point that entails the coming Hunger Games. A male and female between the ages of 12 to 18 are chosen at random from two glass bowls by their districts Escort. Those picked are, from that moment on, are the official tributes for that years Hunger Games.

Once of age, a child's name is entered into the reaping one time. The entries are cumulative, therefore a name is entered once more come the following years reaping. This continues until the child turns 18 when their name is entered 7 times. Or, more entries are placed if they apply for tesserae.

Age groups are held in roped-off sections in the towns square as they wait for the tributes to be selected. Each reaping takes place at different times in separate districts so that the Capitol citizens can watch the various reapings live on their television. Many people of the capitol tend to place bets on who will be chosen or who, out of 24 chosen, will win. All district citizens are to attend their reaping, unless they lay on their deathbed, they will be imprisoned for not attending.

## Volunteers

If someone of age chooses, they may volunteer to take the place another tribute who was selected from the ballot. This is more commonly done by Career Tributes who spend their lives training to compete in the Hunger Games. On fewer occurrences, it is done for other reasons such as someone willing to take the place of a loved one. However, this is not done nearly as often as Career volunteers.

The volunteering process is rather simple in most districts such as the later numbered ones (i.e. 10, 11, 12). In earlier districts on the other hand, such as the Career districts (i.e. 1, 2 and 4), the process is more difficult seeing as participating in the games is considered an honor and victors are highly respected and prestigious individuals.

## Tesserae

For residents of various districts, any child between the ages of 12 and 18 can apply for tesserae. This supplies them with a year's worth of grain and oil. They can choose to do this for each of their family members as well. However, each tesserae that is applied for places their name into the reaping ballot. Gale Hawthorne who was 18 had his name in the reaping bowl 42 times. Tesserae is also cumulative, with five family members Gale's name was entered 32 times, an additional 7 for his years being of age to compete. The amount of tesserae taken is larger in Panem's poorer districts.

## Quarter Quells

Every 25 years, tributes are chosen to compete in an alternate manner. The instructions for that year are specified inside a special envelope read by the president ahead of time. In the 25th Hunger Games, for example, the districts voted the tributes who were to be reaped. In the 50th Hunger Games, twice the amount of regular tributes were sent into the games. Rather than 24, 48 tributes competed for victory. In the 75th Hunger Games, the tributes were reaped from the existing pool of victors.

## Trivia

* The reaping proceeds from the east coast to the west coast. In chronological order, the first four districts are 12, 8, 6 and 11.
* For the 10th annual Hunger Games, the reaping was scheduled on July 4th, which is Independence Day in the United States. It is suggested that this date is the same each year.