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Piggley's Top 10 Ways to Celebrate Irish-American Heritage Month

When you're Irish - or even if you only wish you were Irish! - there's a lot to celebrate in the month of March. Who should know that better than Piggley Winks, the spunky eight-year-old Irish pig starring in the critically acclaimed PBS KIDS series, Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks, the only Irish-themed children's series on television today.

Although most people associate March with St. Patrick's Day on the 17th, the month is also Irish-American Heritage Month. And to celebrate the occasion, Piggley, along with his best friends Ferny the Bull and Dannan the Duck, created his own special list of top 10 fun things to do, whether you're Irish or not!

1. Buy a bouquet of real, fresh shamrocks at your local nursery and wear them in your lapel... just like they do in Ireland! Or, wear green clothing of some kind... just like most of us do in America! (FYI, the shamrock is Ireland's national symbol, while green is the country's national color).
2. Look for your own four-leaf clover in your yard or at the local park. The Irish believe it will bring you good luck.
3. Email friends and family a special Jakers! holiday e-card.
4. Ask your grandparents to tell you a story about when they were young. This is a favorite pastime in Ireland; the Irish are famous for their talents at oral storytelling and for passing their lively tales down from one generation to another. (Look how Grandpa Piggley starts each episode of Jakers! with a story about his childhood!)
5. Make up your own Irish tale about Piggley, Dannan and Ferny. Write and/or draw your story and send it to the producers at Jakers!. The address is Entara, 75-77 Margaret Street, London, W1W 8SY, United Kingdom.
6. Read about the genesis of Irish-American Heritage Month at your local library. Did you know it was started in 1991 by then-President George Bush?
7. Look up Ireland on an Atlas or globe. In particular, search for Tara Hill, County Wicklow and County Galway - these three locations inspired the settings in Jakers!
8. Check your local newspaper to see if there is an Irish-American Heritage celebration or St. Patrick's Day parade in your city. Who knows? You might even see Piggley dancing and prancing down your own main street as he plans to participate in as many local celebrations around the country as possible!
9. Eat something with potatoes in it. The hearty vegetable is a popular staple in Irish homes! Piggley's favorite dish is "Colcannon", which is a combination of potatoes and kale, a type of cabbage. Check out the other delicious dishes in the recipe section.
10. Share this old Irish saying with friends and family: May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, And may trouble avoid you wherever you go.