12 Things Kentuckians Do That Seem Insane To Everyone Else

Some people call them "pop," others just say "soda," but Kentuckians use the word "coke" as a broad term to describe all soft drinks, not just one particular brand.

Even some non-Kentuckians know that the Kentucky Derby is held the first Saturday in May, but the Kentucky Oaks is run the day before the Derby. This race for fillies attracts as many as 120,000 people to Churchill Downs, so many schools and businesses in Louisville are closed that day.

While the Kentucky Oaks is a huge day, the Kentucky Derby is the main event. Thunder Over Louisville is a giant fireworks show (the largest annual fireworks display in North America, to be exact) that kicks off the Kentucky Derby Festival. In the following two weeks leading up to Derby Day, there are tons of events and parties. Some are family friendly like the Great Steamboat Race, and others are geared more toward adults, like the countless parties where bourbon flows like water.

Especially around Lexington, which is known as the "Horse Capital of the World." There's Ruffian, Man O' War, Citation, Pink Pigeon, and Sir Barton, to name only a few.

This statue of Secretariat is located at the Kentucky Horse Park. We need a statue of American Pharoah ASAP.

Because it's the most important part of your Derby Day ensemble.

It's Lou-a-vul or Luh-vul. It's not Loueyville. We'll know you're from out of state if you say it that way.

We pronounce it exactly how it is spelled: Ver-sailles. Sorry, French people.

All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. 95% of the world's supply comes from Kentucky, but it has to be made in America. It must be made with 51% corn. It must age in a barrel for at least two years... I'll stop now.

A Kentucky hug is that warm and fuzzy feeling you get in your throat and chest after swallowing some bourbon.

It is called SWEET tea, isn't it?

We're quite fond of western Kentucky barbecue. We call the sauce "dip" because the meat tastes so good on its own that we don't need to slather it in a thick, sweet sauce to add any flavor. Dip is thinner and vinegar based.