Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ======The Sorting Ceremony====== =====Introduction===== The **Sorting Ceremony** is an annual tradition held at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] at the beginning of every school year. Its primary purpose is to assign new first-year [[students]] to one of the four school [[Hogwarts Houses]]: [[Gryffindor]], [[Hufflepuff]], [[Ravenclaw]], or [[Slytherin]]. The ceremony is conducted in the [[Great Hall]] during the start-of-term feast and is a rite of passage for all incoming [[students]]. The magical artifact responsible for the decision is the [[Sorting Hat]], an ancient and sentient wizard's [[hat]]. =====The Ceremony Process===== The Sorting Ceremony follows a specific and time-honoured sequence of events. - **The Welcoming:** After arriving at [[Hogwarts]], the first-year [[students]] are led into the antechamber off the [[Great Hall]], typically by the Deputy Headmaster or Headmistress, such as [[Professor McGonagall]]. They are given a brief explanation of the ceremony and the importance of the [[Hogwarts Houses]]. - **The Procession:** The first-years are then led in a procession into the [[Great Hall]], where the rest of the student body and staff are waiting. They walk to the front of the hall and face the staff table. - **The Sorting Hat's Song:** A stool with the [[Sorting Hat]] on it is placed at the front. The [[Hat]] then comes to life and sings a new song that it has composed for the year. The song typically describes the founding of [[Hogwarts]], the qualities valued by each of the four founders, and often contains a message or warning for the school. - **The Sorting:** The professor in charge reads the names of the first-years from a parchment scroll in alphabetical order. One by one, each student sits on the stool, and the [[Sorting Hat]] is placed on their head. - **The Decision:** The [[Sorting Hat]] delves into the student's mind, assessing their personality, abilities, and values. After a period of consideration, which can be instantaneous or last several minutes, the [[Hat]] announces its decision by shouting the name of the chosen [[House]] to the entire hall. In cases of internal conflict or a student's strong preference, the [[Hat]] is known to take the student's choice into account. - **The Celebration:** Upon being sorted, the student proceeds to their new [[House]] table to be welcomed with applause. Once the last student has been sorted, the Headmaster gives a welcoming speech, and the start-of-term feast magically appears on the tables. =====The Sorting Hat's Songs===== A unique feature of the ceremony is the annual song performed by the [[Sorting Hat]]. These songs serve to introduce the [[Hogwarts Houses]] and their respective virtues. While often celebratory, the songs can also carry serious messages. For example, in [[Harry Potter]]'s fifth year, the [[Sorting Hat]]'s song was significantly longer and more somber, delivering a stark warning about the need for school unity in the face of the rising threat of [[Lord Voldemort]]. The [[Hat]] cautioned the [[students]] that internal division would weaken the school and make it vulnerable to its enemies. =====Notable Sortings===== * **[[Harry Potter]]:** The [[Sorting Hat]] found that Harry possessed qualities that would make him a good fit for [[Slytherin]], including determination and a "certain disregard for the rules." However, Harry's strong desire not to be in [[Slytherin]] prompted the [[Hat]] to place him in [[Gryffindor]], demonstrating that a student's choice is a crucial factor in the Sorting. * **[[Hermione Granger]]:** The [[Sorting Hat]] took nearly a minute to decide between [[Ravenclaw]] and [[Gryffindor]] for Hermione, ultimately choosing [[Gryffindor]]. * **[[Neville Longbottom]]:** Neville quietly argued with the [[Hat]], feeling he was not brave enough for [[Gryffindor]] and belonged in [[Hufflepuff]]. The [[Sorting Hat]] disagreed and, after a lengthy internal debate, placed him in [[Gryffindor]], a decision that was ultimately vindicated by Neville's later heroism. * **Hatstall:** An archaic term for a Sorting that takes longer than five minutes. True Hatstalls are exceptionally rare. [[Professor McGonagall]] was a near-Hatstall between [[Gryffindor]] and [[Ravenclaw]], as was [[Peter Pettigrew]] between [[Gryffindor]] and [[Slytherin]] (Pottermore). =====Behind the Scenes===== * According to J.K. Rowling, the [[Sorting Hat]] is one of the most intelligent enchanted objects in the wizarding world. It contains the consciousness of the four founders of [[Hogwarts]] and uses [[Legilimency]] to assess a student's mind (Pottermore). * The [[Hat]] originally belonged to [[Godric Gryffindor]]. He and the other founders enchanted it to continue sorting [[students]] long after they were gone, ensuring their distinct preferences for students would be preserved (Pottermore). * In the film adaptation of //Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone//, the [[Sorting Hat]]'s song is featured. In subsequent films, the ceremony is either shown in an abridged form or omitted entirely for narrative pacing (film). * The voice of the [[Sorting Hat]] in the film series was provided by the late actor Leslie Phillips (film).
