4.3.4 Encamisadas in Cuban theater in the 17th century

The Encamisadas are another type of procession, about which unfortunately we do not have much information today, which took place within the Cuban theatrical sphere and social life in Cuba in the 17th century, in the form of a religious festival.
These were night processions, which took place on the Island by the spectacular light of resinous or wax torches.
In the Cuban archipelago, the encamisadas had a specific religious character. This fact did not prevent them from being combined with the festivities celebrating the supposed apparition of Saint Michael. The latter were improvisations on a theme appropriate to the corresponding festival and were staged schematically.
Reference has been found that in the year 1648, the date of the death of Governor Bartolomé de Osuna, the procession of the encamisados (shirtless men) began the festival of the apparition of Saint Michael in the city.
The Encamisadas were one of the 17th century festivities that represented Cuban theater of that century.