McDonald’s is bringing back a holiday menu item that first appeared in 1967. Starting Feb. 20, the Shamrock Shake is set to hit McDonald’s menus nationwide in the lead-up to St. Patrick’s Day, according to TheStreet.
The treat, made of vanilla soft serve ice cream, swirled with a green, minty “shamrock syrup” and topped with whipped cream, was originally invented in 1967 by a Connecticut McDonald’s owner named Hal Rosen. Three years later, it made its debut on menus across the country, according to a McDonald’s press release from 2020. The item has a cult following for its neon green appearance.
Proceeds from Shamrock Shake sales in 1974 helped build the very first Ronald McDonald House, in Philadelphia. The nonprofit organization provides housing and meals to families while their children are in the hospital. San Francisco has a Ronald McDonald House at 1975 4th St., near the UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay.
In 1978, McDonald’s created a Grimace character to help promote the shake leading up to St. Patrick’s Day. If you’re unfamiliar with the Grimace creatures, the furry blob monsters were a “species” that the marketing department at McDonald’s created at a time when brands used caricatures to attract kids and promote new items. Uncle O’Grimacey is a green Grimace character who is the uncle of the original Grimace, Ronald McDonald’s purple best friend.
Once Valentine’s Day is over, it’s time to start shifting into green mode to get ready for those Shamrock Shakes.
