The three-finger salute appeared in The Hunger Games when members of District 12 said goodbye to Katniss, but its meaning expanded over time.

The three-finger salute first appeared in The Hunger Games when members of District 12 used it to say goodbye to Katniss, but its meaning expanded over time. After its first use, the salute came to represent resistance from the Capitol, and later became a symbol of the pro-democracy rebellion led by Katniss. The use of the salute in real-life precedes the publication of The Hunger Games, although its meaning differs. After the movies were released, however, several pro-democracy movements adopted the gesture, with the salute has been used as a sign of solidarity during protests.

The salute is first introduced in The Hunger Games when Katniss is taken away by the Capitol to compete in the 74th Hunger Games. After Katniss volunteers to save her younger sister Prim, the people of District 12 bring the three middle fingers of their left hand to their lips and raise them in a salute. Katniss is surprised by the motion, saying it is "an old and rarely gesture of (District 12), occasionally seen at funerals. It means thanks, it means admiration, it means goodbye to someone you love." Katniss later uses the salute to say goodbye to Rue, the young District 11 tribute she couldn't save. This prompts a mass salute in response by the people of District 11, a gesture of solidarity and unity that leads to a riot.

During The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, the salute is still used as a gesture of goodbye, but also comes to represent the anger and grief people feel toward the Capitol at taking their children to be killed. The people of District 11 use the salute in response to Katniss' speech remembering Rue. The old man who first salutes Katniss is publicly executed. From then on, the salute becomes a gesture of rebellion and support, a way of saying, "I'm with you, I too defy the Capitol." The salute is more than just an expression of personal feeling: it's a way to join the revolution.

Author Suzanne Collins has said The Hunger Games was inspired in part by the Roman gladiator games, in which people were forced to fight to the death for entertainment. Collins' inspiration raises a question about whether the three-finger salute was inspired by the Roman or gladiatorial salute. The Roman salute was a military gesture in which the arm was extended with the palm facing down, similar to the salute seen in The Hunger Games. Additionally, gladiators were rumored to have raised their weapons in a gesture to the Roman emperor before entering the ring. The oft-quoted Latin phrase, "We who are about to die salute you," is an apt sentiment for both Katniss and the oppressed people of District 12.

The three-finger salute is also reminiscent of blowing a kiss, a motion that expresses love and affection toward someone important. Like the salute, blowing a kiss is something that can be done silently and from a distance, a way of saying, "I'll miss you." Katniss also mentions it is a gesture sometimes seen at funerals, perhaps similar to the formal salute of the military at funerals for soldiers and law enforcement officials. Like a military salute, the three-finger salute is a formal gesture only seen in certain situations, making it more significant. The respect it conveys is a higher form of recognition, granting the recipient status among an admired few.

Since 1908, a similar three-finger salute has been used by Boy and Girls Scouts, representing the three parts of the scout promise: to honor God and country, help others, and obey Scout Law. The meaning of The Hunger Games salute is likely also threefold, perhaps representing the three meanings Katniss outlines — gratitude, respect and grief. In recent years, the gesture has been adopted by protest groups, becoming a real-world symbol of democracy. It was used after a 2014 coup in Thailand, subsequently outlawed and revived by protestors in 2020. The gesture has also become a symbol of protest in Myanmar, representing opposition to a 2021 coup. As in the fictional book series, the meaning of the salute in real-world appliation has changed over time.

More: Hunger Games Prequel: Every Way Lucy Gray Will Be Different To Katniss