The first time I saw this mask I thought it was the one worn by the subterranean guy in the "Phantom of the Opera". I found out I was wrong so I decided to check what and who this mask is. Here's what I found out :
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| Guy Fawkes Mask |
It's called the Guy Fawkes mask. Lately, it is commonly seen worn by protestors and used by the internet hackers group Anonymous as their official icon. But behind this mask is a long and interesting history that dates back to 17th century.
Who is Guy Fawkes? And what had he done to become famous, rather infamous, and be perpetually remembered in a mask.
The Gunpowder Plot or Gunpowder Treason Plot, 1605 :
A group of English Catholics led by Robert Catesby plotted to blow up the House of the Lords to assassinate King James I of England to restore a Catholic monarch to the throne. The plot was discovered and one of the plotters caught, convicted and eventually hanged was Guy or Guido Fawkes. Guy Fawkes is a military man who was in-charge of the gunpowder barrels to be used in the plot.
The Bonfire Night :
"Fawkes became synonymous with the Gunpowder Plot, the failure of which has been commemorated in England since 5 November 1605. His effigy is traditionally burned on a bonfire, commonly accompanied by a firework display"[1]. This commemoration is known as the Bonfire Night[2] or Guy Fawkes Night.
V for Vendetta : A comic book series and a film adaptation where the main character was dressed in Guy Fawkes mask made the mask more popular in recent times.
The Guy Fawkes mask has been used by protestors as a way to hide their identities and avoid retaliations. The mask eventually became a symbol of protests. It has also become a popular symbol in internet protest and is the icon of the hacker group called Anonymous.
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