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 perfect and I love the idea! I come from northern Maine, so I speak French and know what the word meant.. but it is soooo good to know it’s a southern tradition!
Hi Lori! It is quite a unique word…I hope you enjoy the giving as much as sharing the word with your friends! Thanks for stopping by!
It’s actually spelled Cerci, and the definition is: A small gift never asked for. A Southern term used predominately in Columbia, SC. Did research on it before I went to my 50th High School reunion, because I made Cercies for all my classmates and their spouses.
Surcee is a word, used in the South, that is believed to have its origins in the Scotch and Irish who settled in the region. The Scottish word for “surprise” is pronounced much like “surcee” and could be a phonetic form passed down from generation to generation. Another possible origin for the word is from the Irish term “sussie” which means to care.
What great information, Corryn! Thank you for sharing this with our readers. I have very much enjoyed hearing from you and others about where this word could have originated. Wherever it came from, it’s certainly been a blessing! Thank you so much for stopping by and for your comments!
Hi Patti! Thank you for your comments and for the bit of knowledge you have shared with us! What a treat your classmates and their spouses had when they received your sweet gifts!
A friend just posted your adorable sursy article to Facebook and, of course, I immediately clicked on it because being a southern girl also, I had not heard this word until moving to Columbia 14 years ago. I thought WOW this is such a cute blog- I MUST click the “about me” to find out who this adorable blogger is. Imagine my surprise when I realized I had already met your adorable self a few weeks ago. What a small world! And thanks for clearing up this sursy mystery! I feel like I have gained my southern street cred back 😉
Hi Kelly! WHAT a small world!!! Thanks so much for your sweet comments! I really appreciate your extremely kind words and yes, you have your street cred back! 😀
I have lived in SC all of my 42 years & I have never heard that word!! Great description & I will be giving them in the near future! Learn something new every day! !!
Hi Lynn, I’m so glad that you were able to learn something new AND fun! I hope you will enjoy as much as I do, giving little sursies to those you love and enjoy. Thanks so much for your comments and for stopping by!
Columbia College had a “surcie shop” where you could go purchase a little surprise for someone!! It’s definitely a C2 thing!! 🙂 every deserves surcies!!
You got that right. CC, class of “68,”
Love that it is still around. CC class of 2014!
Hi Deborah! YAY for shout-outs! And sursies!
Exactly Sherry! Becky Ricks Floyd C2 class of 1974!’
Hi Ally, what a wonderful thing that Columbia College had (has?)! I definitely believe that college students (and teachers!) need sursies (surcies) OFTEN!! Little reminders of encouragement and love.
Thanks for your comments and for sharing this with us!
Agree.. I worked in that shop for Kaye Beard.
We received “surcees” during and at the end of “rat week” when our upperclassman “mentor” was revealed.