The Hunger Games are an event held by the Capitol.

They use this event for two things, one to remind the 12 Districts of their inferiority to the Capitol and for entertainment for the citizens of the Capitol. The reason the Capitol feels it must remind the 12 Districts of the power is because the Districts once rebelled against the Capitol. The Districts were standing their ground against the Capitol until the 13th District was demolished and from then on the Districts fell due to them fighting without their strongest district. The Colony also uses these games as entertainment for their citizens by televising the games as some form of cruel reality show. Every year they hold a reaping ceremony where each districts escort draws a name from a glass bowl and chooses two children to participate in the Hunger Games. When a child turns 12 the child must enter their name for the games and has to enter it one more time every year. For example, if the child is 12 once, 13 twice and so on. The child can also draw their name in another time if they want tessera, which is a small ration of oil and grain. Each tessera has enough oil and grain to supply one family member with food for one year. When a victor comes home he or she doesnt have to participate evr again. Each living victor from each district is given the task of mentoring the next tributes for the Games. If there is only one living victor, he/she will be mentor for both tributes (ex. Haymitch mentors both Katniss and Peeta for the 74th and 75th Hunger Games). Any living victor is invited to the Capitol to come alongside the tributes and to watch the Games live. Mentors are expected to come in order to sort out the complications of sponsors and sending the gifts into the arena. As tributes battle in the arena, quite often they can become helpless (ex. Peeta Mellark with blood poisoning, Katniss' leg burn, etc.). This is simply because of the Cornucopia bloodbath since the tributes are fighting over the items they need to win the Hunger Games. Many of the tributes are left with limited or no items they wanted from the Cornucopia. Wealthy viewers or groups of people can pool their funds and send items into the arena should a tribute need something, such as food, shelter, weapons, or medicine. In the 74th Hunger Games, Katniss received burn medicine and food - most notably a loaf of bread from District 11 that she assumes was intended for Rue before her death. Katniss is extremely touched by this unheard of gesture as never before has a tribute received a gift from another district.