National McDonald's Day is celebrated annually on April 15 to commemorate the founding of the original franchise in 1955. Known for the iconic Ronald McDonald clown mascot and Happy Meals that bring joy to many faces across the country, National McDonald's Day is a much-needed holiday.
How did the first ever McDonald’s come about? It all started with two brothers, Richard and Maurice McDonald, as they stepped out into the world of drive-in restaurants. In 1948, they headlined with their 15-cent hamburgers. As you can guess, they were an absolute hit.
However, the McDonald's franchise—the primary focus of this national holiday—did not come about for another seven years. Restaurant franchiser and agent Ray Kroc decided to help the brothers open their very own dine-in restaurant after paying a visit to the drive-in. Shortly after, the official franchise was opened in Des Plaines, Illinois on April 15, 1955.
The McDonald brothers were the face of the business until 1961, when they sold their company to Ray Kroc.
This restaurant was marketed as a family-friendly place where people could purchase a meal without having to spend an arm and a leg. More specifically, Ray Kroc wanted to come out with a menu item targeting the younger generation.This became known as the Happy Meal.
Debuting on menus in June of 1977, this meal was particularly popular with children and young adults wanting to give it a try as well. With its bite-sized products, and each one coming with a toy or book, it quickly gained traction. This greatly influenced today’s fast food, as many other businesses swiftly caught onto their success and made their own meal branded towards children.
McDonald’s continued to be a big hit and grew extremely popular as the years went on, causing the franchise to spread outside of the United States. Today, there are more than 40,000 locations worldwide!
While McDonald's Day is not a federal holiday, many people across the globe use April 15 to celebrate the significance that one restaurant has made on the world.
So, as you’re biting into a juicy burger, digging into a Happy Meal, or enjoying any item on the McDonald's menu, take the time to take in the rich history of this fast food restaurant!
