Cinco de Mayo is more widely celebrated in the United States then in Mexico.
Its about a Mexican victory at the Battle of Puebla, May 5, 1862 against French forces attempting to make Mexico a colony.
This is significant to the United States because as you know at the time we were in the middle of a War between the States and unable to aid Mexico in enforcing the Monro doctrine.
It is not specifically a Hispanic thing.
Thanks for the explanation of significance of Cinco de Mayo from U.S. perspective and from Mexican Perspective.
My impressions of the event is shaped by my Hispanic friends (and family members) here in U.S. I spent 14 years in NM and it is talked about there, but seldom saw much of an event around it.
Both the U.S. and Mexico would be better off if we cooperated more. But the difference of cultural perspective and the political norms have made that impossible.
Here in Texas it is a little different. Many Hispanics supported the break from Mexico in 1835-1836. (San Jacinto was fought on April 21, 1836) Currently Texas Hispanics are divided politically, and I think some think they were USED in the last election cycle. They were.