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McDonald’s giving away free food – from cheeseburgers to coffee – with app purchases now through Christmas Eve
Kelly Tyko
| USA TODAY
McDonald’s to give away free Christmas-themed meals through Dec. 25McDonald’s is giving you an early holiday present. Learn how to get it.McDonald’s is giving away early holiday gifts.Starting Monday and through Dec. 24, the fast-food chain is featuring iconic holiday characters’ favorite menu items and will give them away for free with a $1 minimum purchase. The McDonald’s mobile app is needed to get the 11 days of daily deals.Characters include Frosty the Snowman, whose favorite item is a McFlurry; Buddy the Elf, who prefers syrupy Hotcakes; The Grinch with an Egg McMuffin and Seinfeld’s Frank Costanza with a Festivus freebie on Dec. 23.The daily app deals end on Christmas Eve with free chocolate chip cookies in honor of Santa Claus. The company says this day’s deal is the only that doesn’t require a $1 purchase. Target holiday hours: Target extends store hours for holiday shopping ahead of Christmas, reduces coronavirus senior hoursCannibal sandwich scare: Wisconsin officials urge families to pass on holiday tradition of eating raw meat“What better way to celebrate and get into the holiday spirit than with free McDonald’s menu favorites for everyone including Rudolph, the Abominable Snow Monster and yes, even Scrooge,” McDonald’s U.S. Chief Marketing Officer Morgan Flatley said in a news release.The characters’ favorite menu items follow special collaborations with musicians Travis Scott and J Balvin, who had their favorite meals available at restaurants for a limited time.“These beloved holiday characters are the latest icons to have their favorite menu items featured at participating restaurants nationwide,” McDonald’s said in the release, adding daily in-app deals will celebrate the go-to orders of characters from classic holiday movies like Christmas Vacation, Gremlins as well as Die Hard, which it emphasizes “is a holiday movie.”Earlier this month, McDonald’s brought back the McRib, its iconic barbecue sandwich with a cult-like following.McDonald’s free Daily Deals calendarThe freebies will be available at participating locations and each is valid one time per day with a $1 minimum purchase on its mobile app. More details will be available on the app.Dec. 14: The Griswolds, free Double CheeseburgerDec. 15: The Abominable Snowonster, free Big MacDec. 16: The Grinch, free Egg McMuffinDec. 17: John McClane, free McDoubleDec. 18: Rudolph, free medium FryDec. 19: Gizmo, free 6-piece McNuggetsDec. 20: Buddy the Elf, free HotcakesDec. 21: Scrooge, free any size Hot or Iced CoffeeDec. 22: Frosty the Snowman, free any size McFlurryDec. 23: Frank Costanza and the rest of us, free Bakery Item (Apple Fritter, Cinnamon Roll, Blueberry Muffin)Dec. 24: Santa, free 2-pack or 3-pack Chocolate Chip Cookies (No minimum purchase required)Hurry and ship holiday gifts: COVID vaccine shipments could delay your Christmas gifts. Prepare for Shipageddon 2020 by sending packages ASAPFurniture at Home Depot? Home Depot adds more home decor to its online inventory as shoppers redecorate amid COVID-19Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko