History
The History of Lucky Charms
See how one of America's favorite cereals has evolved over the last 60 years.
Inspired by Circus Peanuts
Lucky Charms made its magical debut in 1964, thanks to product developer John Holahan’s creativity. Inspired by his favorite candy, Circus Peanuts, Holahan experimented by mixing chopped-up pieces of the chewy treat with Cheerios, resulting in the creation of the iconic cereal. The original version featured oat pieces shaped like bells, fish, arrowheads, clovers, and x’s, paired with colorful marshmallows in the shapes of green clovers, pink hearts, orange stars and yellow moons.
To bring the cereal to market, Lucky the Leprechaun was introduced on St. Patrick’s Day in 1964. He quickly became a familiar face, appearing in vibrant Sunday comics, comic books and animated TV ads, capturing the imaginations of consumers everywhere.
In 1975, for a brief moment in history, Waldo the Wizard stepped in to replace Lucky the Leprechaun before the beloved mascot reclaimed his spot as the face of the brand.
Magic is in the Marshmallows
While the oat cereal pieces have kept their original shapes, they got a sweet upgrade in 1967 and were sugar frosted. However, it’s the ever-evolving marshmallows — affectionately known as Lucky’s "charms" — that have truly kept the cereal magically delicious.
This Spring, Lucky Charms is celebrating the magic of rainbows with three exciting new twists on the beloved classic: Lucky Charms Rainbow Sprinkles Cereal, Lucky Charms Jumbo Rainbow Cereal and Jumbo Rainbow Just Magical Marshmallows! These enchanting new offerings, inspired by the joy and whimsy of the rainbow marshmallow — first introduced to the cereal in 1992 — will be hitting shelves nationwide starting in April 2025.
Introducing new marshmallows has always been a key ingredient in keeping Lucky Charms exciting. Over the years, more than 60 different marshmallows have made their way into the cereal mix, though only one from the original lineup remains: the pink heart.
Some marshmallows, however, have created more memorable moments than others:
1975: Lucky Charms introduced its first new marshmallow — the blue diamond — marking the beginning of iconic marshmallow magic.
1989: The red balloon was introduced to celebrate Lucky Charms' 25th anniversary.
1991: The star-in-balloon marshmallow was the first marshmallow in a marshmallow shape.
1995: Lucky reimagined the marshmallows with brighter colors and the moon shape returned but this time as the beloved blue moon.
2005: The charms' magical powers were first revealed on a side panel titled “The Magic of the Charms.” Each charm in the cereal grants Lucky unique abilities, adding to the magic of every bite.
- Heart: Life
- Purple Horseshoe: Speed
- Red Balloon: Float
- Rainbow: Travel
- Pots ‘O Gold: Illumination
- Blue Moon: Invisibility
- Green Hat with Clover: Luck
- Shooting Star: Flight
2020: For the first time, Lucky Charms Just Magical Marshmallows were available for in-store purchase.
Want more marshmallow magic? Take a trip down memory lane as we explore the top 20 Lucky Charms marshmallow moments here.
Famous Lucky Charms Promotions
Beyond its ever-evolving marshmallows, Lucky Charms has also enchanted fans with exciting promotions. From charm bracelets to real trees, these special offers have added even more magic to the cereal experience. Here are some of the most memorable ones:
1964: A magnetic game and Lucky Charms Charm bracelet were offered for just 25 cents!
1983: Lucky encouraged cereal lovers to grow real crops on his magical mini farm with seeds, tools and even animals.
1987: Lucky went 3D and huggable with the offer of a plush, stuffed leprechaun.
1991: Lucky Charms featured a mail-in offer for a free, real tree.
1998: Lucky traveled around the world and offered coins featuring world landmarks as well as a passport and travel kit.
For more on the history of Lucky Charms promotions, check out this video featuring Susan Wakefield, former corporate archivist for General Mills.