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 had never heard the word surly until my mother-in-law brought me one one time and she explained it to me and once in a while I got one and so did she!
Hi Carolyn, what a sweet treasure you have with your mother-in-law! I love hearing the stories of those that they shared this tradition with, yours included. Thank you for your comment!
I’m from VA and never heard the term. Maybe we aren’t far enough South. I love it and do that often but now I will call it a sursy. Thanks for enlightening me and the rest of us. What a great Southern tradition!
Hi Diane! Yes, come further south! But don’t…unless you like the humidity! 🙂 I hope you can use the word this week on a friend or family member! Thanks for your comment!
i grew up in SC and first heard the word’sursey’ as a student at Limestone College in the 60s. Love this tradition!
Hi Janet, yes it is a great tradition! I hope you use it in your own circle of friends and family! Thank you for your comment!
I too am from Columbia, SC and not long after my husband and I were married in 1971 he brought me a surcy one day.(That was the first time I had heard the term) It was a small siamese kitten.We named him Sir See.My husband and SirSee are both long gone to heaven but giving surcies makes me happy.
Hi Peggy! Thank you for your comment. What a sweet gift your husband gave you – and I love that you named your kitten Sir See! Thank you for sharing that memory with us!
I have never heard that word, but familiar with the concept. In Montgomery, AL, we call them “happys”…fun, unexpected surprises!
Hi Cheri, you certainly have it down pat as a “happy”. I’ve yet to give a sursy where the recipient wasn’t happy! 🙂