Photos: Guy Fawkes Day
"Remember, remember the fifth of November" ... That was the day, in 1605, that British traitor Guy Fawkes was caught in an attempt to kill King James I and replace him with a Catholic monarch. Every year since, England has commemorated the event, and Fawkes' effigy is traditionally burned via bonfire. Today, however, the Guy Fawkes mask - made popular in part by the 2006 movie "V for Vendetta" - has come to stand for anonymous protesting. More specifically, the mask is used by the computer hacking and activist group Anonymous. In South Africa, however, the day is celebrated a bit differently. Find out how in our gallery below.
Guy Fawkes Day
A demonstrator stands along the fence during a protest in front of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, against corrupt governments and corporations, part of a Million Mask March of similar rallies around the world on Guy Fawkes Day. Guy Fawkes Day, Nov. 5, is to mark when English authorities arrested Guy Fawkes, the leader of the "Gunpowder Plot" during a to blow up Houses of Parliament in 1605. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Guy Fawkes Day
A young boy dressed up sticks out his tongue as he celebrates Guy Fawkes day in Thokoza south of Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013. Guy Fawkes day is celebrated mainly in England by burning his effigy on a bonfire to mark a foiled plot to blow up Parliament in 1605, but Guy Fawkes Day has a different meaning in Soweto, South Africa, where it is a day of absurd cross-dressing. Comical troupes of children in clumsy make-up and adult clothing sing special Guy Fawkes songs and dance in the streets as they playfully beg for coins from passing admirers. It’s not clear why the day is celebrated this way in the townships, but observers agree at least it’s good, clean fun, posing no harm to animals or other people. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Guy Fawkes Day
Supporters of the activist group Anonymous, wearing Guy Fawkes masks, walk from a protest in front of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia on Guy Fawkes Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Guy Fawkes Day
A young girl dressed up on the street as she celebrates the Guy Fawkes in Thokoza south of Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013. Guy Fawkes day is celebrated mainly in England by burning his effigy on a bonfire to mark a foiled plot to blow up Parliament in 1605, but Guy Fawkes Day has a different meaning in Soweto, South Africa, where it is a day of absurd cross-dressing. Comical troupes of children in clumsy make-up and adult clothing sing special Guy Fawkes songs and dance in the streets as they playfully beg for coins from passing admirers. It’s not clear why the day is celebrated this way in the townships, but observers agree at least it’s good, clean fun, posing no harm to animals or other people. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Guy Fawkes Day
Lebanese activists wear masks as they protest against corrupt governments and corporations, in support of the anonymous activist moment, at the Martyrs square, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Nov 5, 2013, as part of a Million Mask March of similar rallies around the world on Guy Fawkes Day. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Guy Fawkes Day
A young girl is dressed up as walks on the street as she celebrates Guy Fawkes in Thokoza south of Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013. Guy Fawkes is celebrated mainly in England by burning his effigy on a bonfire to commemorate a foiled plot to blow up the House of Lords at Parliament in 1605, a crime for which he was sentenced to hang. Guy Fawkes Day has a different meaning in Soweto. It is a day of absurd cross-dressing. Comical troupes of children in clumsy make-up and adult clothing sing special Guy Fawkes songs and dance in the streets as they playfully beg for coins from admirers. It’s not clear why the day is celebrated this way in the townships, but observers agree at least it’s good, clean fun, posing no harm to animals and other people. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Guy Fawkes Day
Lebanese activists wear masks as they protest against corrupt governments and corporations, in support of the anonymous activist moment, at the Martyrs square, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Nov 5, 2013, as part of a Million Mask March of similar rallies around the world on Guy Fawkes Day. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Guy Fawkes Day
A young girl dressed up walks on the street as she celebrate the Guy Fawkes in Thokoza south of Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013. Guy Fawkes day is celebrated mainly in England by burning his effigy on a bonfire to mark a foiled plot to blow up Parliament in 1605, but Guy Fawkes Day has a different meaning in Soweto, South Africa, where it is a day of absurd cross-dressing. Comical troupes of children in clumsy make-up and adult clothing sing special Guy Fawkes songs and dance in the streets as they playfully beg for coins from passing admirers. It’s not clear why the day is celebrated this way in the townships, but observers agree at least it’s good, clean fun, posing no harm to animals or other people. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Guy Fawkes Day
Lebanese activists wear masks as they protest against corrupt governments and corporations, in support of the anonymous activist moment, at the Martyrs square, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Nov 5, 2013, as part of a Million Mask March of similar rallies around the world on Guy Fawkes Day. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Guy Fawkes Day
Children dressed up as perform for motorists as they celebrate Guy Fawkes in Thokoza south of Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013. Guy Fawkes day is celebrated mainly in England by burning his effigy on a bonfire to mark a foiled plot to blow up Parliament in 1605, but Guy Fawkes Day has a different meaning in Soweto, South Africa, where it is a day of absurd cross-dressing. Comical troupes of children in clumsy make-up and adult clothing sing special Guy Fawkes songs and dance in the streets as they playfully beg for coins from passing admirers. It’s not clear why the day is celebrated this way in the townships, but observers agree at least it’s good, clean fun, posing no harm to animals or other people. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Guy Fawkes Day
People stand outside the Albany County Courthouse wearing masks associated with the group "Anonymous" on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, in Laramine, Wyo. (AP Photo/Laramie Daily Boomerang, Jeremy Martin)
Guy Fawkes Day
Children dressed up as perform for motorists as they celebrate Guy Fawkes in Thokoza south of Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013. Guy Fawkes day is celebrated mainly in England by burning his effigy on a bonfire to mark a foiled plot to blow up Parliament in 1605, but Guy Fawkes Day has a different meaning in Soweto, South Africa, where it is a day of absurd cross-dressing. Comical troupes of children in clumsy make-up and adult clothing sing special Guy Fawkes songs and dance in the streets as they playfully beg for coins from passing admirers. It’s not clear why the day is celebrated this way in the townships, but observers agree at least it’s good, clean fun, posing no harm to animals or other people. . (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Guy Fawkes Day
A Lebanese activist wears a mask and holds up a placard, as he protests against corrupt governments and corporations, in support of the anonymous activist moment, at the Martyrs square, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Nov 5, 2013, as part of a Million Mask March of similar rallies around the world on Guy Fawkes Day. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Guy Fawkes Day
A 5-year-old girl only known as Livhuno, walks on the street as she celebrates Guy Fawkes in Thokoza south of Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013. Guy Fawkes day is celebrated mainly in England by burning his effigy on a bonfire to mark a foiled plot to blow up Parliament in 1605, but Guy Fawkes Day has a different meaning in Soweto, South Africa, where it is a day of absurd cross-dressing. Comical troupes of children in clumsy make-up and adult clothing sing special Guy Fawkes songs and dance in the streets as they playfully beg for coins from passing admirers. It’s not clear why the day is celebrated this way in the townships, but observers agree at least it’s good, clean fun, posing no harm to animals or other people. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Guy Fawkes Day
A Lebanese activist wears a mask as he protest against corrupt governments and corporations, in support of the anonymous activist moment, at the Martyrs square, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Nov 5, 2013, as part of a Million Mask March of similar rallies around the world on Guy Fawkes Day. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Guy Fawkes Day
Lebanese activists wear masks as they protest against corrupt governments and corporations, in support of the anonymous activist moment, at the Martyrs square, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Nov 5, 2013, as part of a Million Mask March of similar rallies around the world on Guy Fawkes Day. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Guy Fawkes Day
Lebanese activists wear masks and hold placards, protest against corrupt governments and corporations, in support of the anonymous activist moment, at the Martyrs square, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Nov 5, 2013, as part of a Million Mask March of similar rallies around the world on Guy Fawkes Day. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Guy Fawkes Day
A Lebanese activist wears a mask and holds up a placard, as he protests against corrupt governments and corporations, in support of the anonymous activist moment, at the Martyrs square, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Nov 5, 2013, as part of a Million Mask March of similar rallies around the world on Guy Fawkes Day. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)