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 love this! I’m a Georgia girl and have never heard of it! I would love for you to link up with us : 10 Happy Days (http://www.akreativewhim.com/sleepless-solo) oh- and I’m a dreams by design user, too!
I would love to link up with you – will send you a message!
I also first heard about surcies at Columbia College –60 years ago! Loved them then; love them now.
I’m a SC native and have known of sursies since college. I went to USC and my roomies and I had the habit of giving them. I’ve done it ever since. My mom is good at it, too.
I even opened a store called The Curio in Spartanburg that was about 70% sursy. 🙂
First I heard of it was freshman year at Columbia College!!! Loved getting surcies!!!!
My 85 y/o Mother, born & raised in Charleston, SC has used “sercie” since before I was born. She told me that she learned it from their Nanny when she was young. So it’s been around a LONG time. More than likely it made it to Columbia College and other colleges from daughters of monied families with Nannies.
When I was a little girl in South Georgia my daddy came home from a vusiness trip with a sursey…I’ve used it ever since…I love giving…In fact I gave one to a special friend at church today…People look at me funny…even my children and grandchildren use the word…love it..
When I was a little girl in South Georgia my daddy came home from a business trip with a sursey…I’ve used it ever since…I love giving…In fact I gave one to a special friend at church today…People look at me funny…even my children and grandchildren use the word…love it..