The Melbourne Cup

When you first hear 'The Melbourne Cup' without any Australian context, what runs through your mind? Melbourne, a capital city in Victoria. Cup?- is it a competition? a chugging race? Literally a large cylinder called "The Melbourne Cup"? I kept hearing it throughout my time here, and then I would see obscure posters and different signage outside pubs and restaurants showcasing Specials for The Melbourne Cup. Turns out The Melbourne Cup is race day, jockeys, horses, fascinators, gambling- the works. The culture surrounding The Melbourne Cup is what makes it fascinating. It's done up just as much as St. Patrick's Day, Halloween, Fourth of July- it's a trademark Australian event. Everyone or most people get dressed up for the occasion, some offices close, others host their own lunches and screenings and afterwards everyone uses it as an excuse to get drunk. It's literally all this build up for a less than 5 minute race.