Quien fue a Sevilla perdió su silla
This saying is used when something negative happens to us in our absence. Here is an example: Let's say we have the best seat at a concert and we get up to get something to drink. When we return, much to our chagrin, we find that someone has taken our place.
But, what does that wonderful Andalusian city have to do with someone taking our seat? Behind this saying is a very interesting story.
In the 15th century, the archbishop of Seville, Alonso de Fonseca—nicnamed El Viejo (The Old Man)—went on a trip to Galicia for church related matters in Santiago de Campostela. Since he thought that the only people he could trust in absence were his family, he ceded his power to his nephew, Alonso de Fonseca—El Mozo (The Kid)—while he was away. You can imagine El Viejo's surprise when he returned to Seville to discover that his young nephew refused to return to him the post of archbishop!
Of course, you are probably asking "Then the saying should be quién se fue (departed) de Sevilla perdió su silla?" Well, that is what we were asking ourselves. We will keep investigating.
Other popular Spanish Sayings
- A la fuerza ahorcan
- De noche todos los gatos son pardos
- Lo bueno, si es breve, dos veces bueno
- "Ya que la casa se quema, calentémonos en ella"
- "The house of the soap-maker is a slippery place"
- "Santo era Pedro y negó a su maestro"
- "Aprendiz de todo, maestro de nada"
- "En Carnaval todo pasa, hasta los novios a las casas"