Why Serena Williams doesn’t celebrate her daughter’s birthday
It’s hard to believe a celebrity child not having a birthday bash that other everyday kids’ envy, but that’s exactly what Serena William’s has instilled as she raises her daughter Alexis Olympia.
The tennis champion says she will not be celebrating her daughter’s birthday – not now, not ever.
“Olympia doesn’t celebrate birthdays,” Williams revealed at a US Open press conference in August 2017.
“We’re Jehovah’s Witnesses, we don’t do that.”
According to Serena’s faith, Jesus Christ never celebrated his own birthday, which means those practicing the religion should follow the same path.
Serena, who was born and raised a Jehovah’s Witness, most likely grew up without celebrating her own birthday, so the entire stance isn’t too unusual for her.
And birthdays aren’t the only thing that’s forbidden in the religion. Those who are Jehovah’s Witness reject blood transfusion, don’t take part in sex before marriage and don’t celebrate Easter and Christmas due to its ties to paganism.
And due to their dedication to peace, they do not take part in politics or war, and don’t affiliate with people of different religious backgrounds – although they are told to respect all faiths.
Despite being raised by her mother as a Jehovah’s Witness, Serena mentioned how she had trouble early on connecting with the beliefs.
“Being a Jehovah’s Witness is important to me, but I’ve never really practiced it and have been wanting to get into it,” she said right before Olympia’s birth.
The mother-of-one revealed it was her husband Alexis Ohanian who encouraged the star to become more involved.
“Alexis didn’t grow up going to any church, but he’s really receptive and even takes the lead,” she said. “He puts my needs first.”