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?!
That’s the first time I have heard that word in a very long time. My grandmother would give us a sursy occasionally. Brings back nice memories….❤
I am from Florence, SC and have always known about surcys! My mother was a great surcy giver and I’ve always given surcys. I love being from South Carolina.
Dede, I have some friends in Florence – what a great city. Thanks for your sweet comment – what precious things about our Moms and how they teach us to be givers! Thanks for stopping by!
My family is from Latta and my maiden name is Coleman! I wonder is we’re related?
Born in FL & grew up in SC – Sursy or Sursie – it’s a little “surprise”…
Thanks for your sweet comment Melissa – I think we all love a little surprise, right!? 🙂
I am Southern born and bred, but have never heard the word sursy. However, I do participate in fun, unexpected, little gift giving times with my friends. I call them “Happies”. No matter what you call them, they fun! It’s so true ~ “It’s much better to give than receive!”
Hi Susan! Thanks for your comment and I love that you call them “Happies”! because they certainly make folks happy. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!
My step-mother-in-law is English. I was born in NC and have live 40 years in SC. she always used the word sursey so I thought the word was of English.. My wife still uses the word for a small gift of love.
Robert, how wonderful and very appropriate! And I love that your wife uses it as a small gift of Love. Isn’t love always in the heart of the giver? Thanks for your sweet comment!