McDonald's Shamrock Shake Goes National

For the first time, McDonald's is offering its signature minty green Shamrock Shake nationwide from now through St. Patrick's Day.

Previously, McDonald's left it up to local market operators to decide whether to offer the shake, and roughly half of McDonald's nationwide offered the shakes last year, according to Crain's Chicago Business. This year, the Shamrock Shake – topped with whipped cream and a cherry – is available at all McDonald's restaurants until March 25.

First launched in 1970 as a week-long promotion to help raise money for a "home away from home" project for families of children being treated at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the Shamrock Shake helped raise enough money to buy the first Ronald McDonald House – a seven-bedroom home near the hospital.

Since then, more than 300 Ronald McDonald Houses have opened, and the shake has developed a cult-like following with some fans going so far as to create a website to help Shamrock Shake lovers find the treat. Others have created Facebook fan pages dedicated to the shake, including one that has more than 43,000 "likes" so far.

So where can you find the green dessert? In Canton, you can stop by all three McDonald's locations – , 44900 Ford Road; , 40241 Michigan Ave. and , 45510 Michigan Ave. – for your Shamrock Shake today.