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  1. I have never heard this word, even though my family was part Scotch-Irish and have lived in the South since the 1600’s. We are now Memphians. But I have certainly been the recipient of many sursy’s and have given many myself. I just didn’t know what they were called! I love giving little sursy’s to my 3-year-old granddaughters. My family has always just called them, with half apologies for such a small gift, “little surprises.”

    1. Hi Cary, thank you for sharing this comment with us. I think surprises are wonderful, no matter how small! I am thrilled to read that you give them to your granddaughters! You are carrying on a sweet tradition! Thank you for stopping by!

  2. I have lived my entire life in South Carolina, 75 this month, and I never heard the word, even though there are people named Searcy living in our area of Pickens County. I have been giving surseys for as long as I can remember, but didn’t know this was what they were called. I just enjoy giving a small gift when the recipient does not expect this. I am in a group of ladies who dine out once a week. It is not unusual for us to give or receive a sursey.

    1. Hi Louise, what sweet comment you have made and happy birthday to you! I hope your birthday is full of sweet surprises and maybe a sursy or two! I love hearing that the group of ladies you dine with are prone to giving sursies – they certainly make life fun!

  3. I am from NC and have known about little unexpected gifts for at least a few decades. I had never seen it in print, had heard it was French, and so spelled it serci. The French for surprise makes me see How this could have become serci or sercy or some variation. I do enjoy buying little gifts for those in my life and surprising them. It’s a wonderful tradition!

    1. Hi Gloria, I absolutely agree with you – surprising those you love with little gifts is a wonderful tradition! Thank you for your sweet comment – I hope you can find someone special this week with which to gift a sursy!

  4. My Grandmother is 87 and from Latta, SC. She ALWAYS had “surseys” for my brothers and I when we came to visit as children. She’d hide them on a door knob behind an open door and we’d eagerly run around trying to find them. It was usually something like a Pez Dispenser or matchbox cars. Now she gives them to my 2 and 4 year old girls. I always loved the word and always associated it with my warm and generous grandmother. I’ll have to ask her about it next visit, after my girls find thier sursys 😉 ❤️.

    1. Hi Sara! I love this idea…of hiding the sursy on a doorknob of an open door! What fun you and your brothers must have had racing around trying to find your sweet treat! And I know your daughters must have a joyous time of it now as well. Thank you for sharing this sweet custom with us – and what precious memories you have!

  5. My grandfather always used that word and often brought me sursies. I used in to my friend in college, not knowing that the whole world didn’t use this word on a regular basis, and she adopted it, too. A decade later she sent me a small box that not only contained a sursey but had the definition on the cover of the box! It stated that the origin of the word was Scotland. Maybe that’s why so many Southerners haven’t heard the word as a child. My family has a strong Scottish heritage and my grandfather likely found it that way. I agree that it is the most heartfelt and sincere gift giving there is. And, I often surprise my daughters with a little sursey, just because.

    1. Hi Mary, thank you for sharing this comment with us! What sweet memories you have of your grandfather and whether you know it or not, you started a tradition with your college friend! I hope the tradition carries on through your own daughters!

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