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It is a tradition of Mexican professional Wrestling, called lucha libre. The wrestlers are known as luchadores, and the masks are known as máscaras. The mask represents the character they are portraying, often some sort of animal, deity, or legendary hero. In the same tradition, the character follows the mask. In Mexico, if Rey Mysterio took off his mask, he would be called Óscar Gutiérrez (though he might still be referred to by his ring name by some, especially those who don't know his real name). If he then gave his mask to another luchador to wear, that person would become Rey Mysterio while he wore the mask.
The mask, to a luchador, gives him an opportunity to be someone or something bigger than himself - larger than life, as it were. It is considered a grave insult to unmask a luchador, and is often grounds for disqualification if it happens during a match. Luchadores will sometimes put their mask up for wager in certain matches, like to entice a champion to put his title on the line as well.
Some have said that Rey Mysterio's mask is meant to hide a childlike face, which is blatantly untrue. He is not embarrassed about his face, but rather embraces the rich history and tradition of lucha libre. To suggest anything else would be insulting not only to Rey Mysterio, but also to Sin Cara and the thousands of luchadores in all parts of the world, past and present.
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