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?!
As a fellow Columbia College graduate, ’09, I first learned of the term my first year as a student. It was the first time I’ve ever heard of such a term and the kind gesture definitely lives on within you. It becomes a part of your philanthropy and yourself.
Hello to all of my fellow Columbia College graduates! Made my day to see this post and to think of the long legacy my lovely alma mater shares with others!
Hi Latoya, thank you for your comment! I agree that once a giver, always a giver…whether of small gifts like sursies or your time/money. Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Monday all!
I was born & raised in Greenville, SC and never lived outside of Greenville County until migrating further south to Florida almost 9 years ago when I was in my early 30s. I first heard the word in high school. I distinctly remember a friend greeting me one day with “Hey!! I got you a sursy!” I immediately thought. “a what???” lol. I’ve used it ever since yet can’t remember once that I ever considered its spelling. Anywho – After meeting a new friend in Florida, the same scenario played out as I greeted her one day with, “Hey! I got you a sursy!” She replied much the same as I had so many years before. Wasn’t too long after that, my Floridian friend was a pro sursy giver, spreading the love & meaning of a South Carolinian’s odd, happy little word!
Thanks for encouraging such a positively mood altering gesture!! Now let’s see how many of our new, less southern sursy givers end up saying “y’all”, to boot! Ha!!
Hi Karen! I really enjoyed your comment – you made me smile today! I hope you enjoy giving away some sursies this week – and sharing your sweet, positive attitude – it is contagious!
So ironic that I saw this post! I am a SC girl so I always knew about surcys and I recently gave one to a friend. My daughter said, What is a surly? So I got to explain it to her. I will have to admit that I never knew how to spell it!
Hi Anne! Thank you for your comment. I’ve seen many other ways of spelling the word, in comments here. I personally don’t think it’s the spelling that matters, but rather the giver behind the gift! I’m so glad you’re a sursy giver and now it seems, your daughter might be 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by!
I grew up in West Columbia and I’ve heard the term most of my life. I love to give circes. I love to receive circes. I didn’t realize that it was not a common term nor have I seen so much info about it until now. Thanks to everyone for sharing.
Hi Teri! It seems that the word has cause quite a stir! I’ve been thrilled to see all the comments on the possible origin of the word and how others called it. I’m with you, a big thanks to everyone {yourself included!} for sharing!
I am from Oklahoma and never heard of this word. But my Momm’s family from Texas always did this
I used to do it quite a bit but finances have changed.
One thing you didn’t mention are cards. Hardly anyone writes anymore and cards are a great surprise.
Hi Margaret! Thank you for your comment. I stick to the heart of the gift – you don’t have to spend a lot, it’s the gesture that counts. I have a few other posts especially about giving cards: https://camelliasandcopper.com/2014/06/send-me-a-letter/ AND https://camelliasandcopper.com/2015/02/paper-and-crayons/. I am a proponent of card-giving. They are inexpensive {especially if you make them yourself!} and can often pinpoint exactly what you want to say. I really appreciate you stopping by to view my site and I hope you enjoy the posts you’ve read!