The Sursy
The first time I heard the word, “sursy”, I had recently moved to South Carolina and someone brought me a candle and called it a sursy.
A what?
A sursy.
What’s a sursy?
I recently had this conversation with a new co-worker, who moved here from Denver, Colorado just a few months ago.
She’d never heard of the word either.
So of course, like a good southern lady, I told her what a sursy is.
First, I googled it, so she wouldn’t think I totally made up this somewhat-of-a-silly-sounding word.
The urban dictionary {as opposed to the SUBurban…} states that a sursy is: a term commonly used in the South to denote a small, unexpected gift…for no special occasion, particularly to show affection or thanks.
Now, I am from the South. I am southern, born and bred. But I’m telling y’all, I’d never heard this word, ever before until South Carolina came into my life.
Of course now, I love to use the word. The word itself just sounds friendly. For those of you who don’t know, it’s pronounced like “sir see”. I enjoy finding little sursies to gift to friends or coworkers.
When Andrew and I were in our pre-marital counseling we discovered that neither of us was {is?!} a good gift giver…as in giving sursies…unexpected gifts. Sure, we’re great at the birthday, anniversary, the um, important dates. But not really the unexpected.
And as I write this I’m thinking that I probably need to find a sursy for him…because he’s not gotten a sursy in a while. hmm.
Anyhew, back to everyone else! ha!
The key to the sursy is that it’s unexpected. And inexpensive. For me it’s the something that says to the recipient, “hey, I saw this today, thought of you and wanted you to have it.”
It can be a small candle {like I received}, a pretty little trinket holder, a neat/unique pack of notes. I even gave someone some witty post-it notes once because this particular coworker had post its lining the shelf above his head.
I don’t give sursies often…that’s what makes them unexpected! And I wait for things to speak to me. Kind of like the Pier One commercials where the birds or the gnomes start talking to the lady shopping.
Ok, I know I sound crazy now. But take today for example. I saw a pretty little dish with a fabulous little saying on it and thought, “that’s perfect for…!”
I didn’t hesitate. I grabbed it, put something I had for me in my hand, back on the shelf and made my little purchase. And yes, I’ll take the gift wrapping because I want that tiny little rosette!!
Y’all. It’s way more fun to give!!! Who’s going to get your next sursy?!
I grew up in Clemson, and my mother used this word often. As a small child, I always thought it was spelled “Certs-y” because I associated it with Certs candy. They were a treat, and the Certsy that mother always brought me from trips were like treats. We have a strong Scots background, and it’s been used in my family for years. I always “heard” it came over with them. Excellent article. I thought it was a “family” thing because I’ve never heard it outside the family til now!
I grew up, and still live outside of Charleston, SC. My Mother who was born and raised in Horry County, was who I taught me the word and practice of Sursy (we spelled it Surci) giving. I never heard anyone else using it, and thought it was one of “her words”.
Her thoughful and love filled sursies are one of the things I miss the most since her death. Fortunately, I was blessed with a loving daughter, and we enjoy exchanging the little gifts.
She lives hundreds of miles away, so our little gifts have morphed into boxes filled with little gifts, that frequently are delivered to our porches via FedEx.
It’s wonderful to give and receive some small gift that shows you were thought of, and loved!
I am 50 years old and have lived in SC all my life. I was made well aware of sursies about 25 to 30 years ago. I believe your description is a wonderful one… unexpected gifts for friends and loved ones. To me, I prefer something called “Random Acts of Kindness.” This takes the giving to an entirely new level: inviting an elderly widow to your house for a meal on a regular basis, feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, helping build houses for the homeless, and planting community gardens in low income neighborhoods. Who better could use sursies? Be blessed everyone!
I am from Columbia and I just KNEW when you said you wanted the little rosette that the sursie was from handpicked! I smiled so big when I saw the bag in the picture!
#SCgirlstuckinGA
I first learned about circes at Tift College in Forsyth, Georgia, during the late 70s. I have continued the giving of citces with my children, and they carry on the tradition with their children. One of my grandsons can’t quite understand that you can’t ask for a circe … It must be a surprise!
Hi Barbie! Thank you for your comment and I’m so glad that you have started this sweet tradition with your family, including your grandchildren! I love that you’re also teaching your grandson about the special-ness of a circe…the unexpectedness!