Why Serena Williams won't be celebrating her daughter Olympia's 1st birthday
Superstar tennis player Serena Williams has caused a stir after saying how she won’t be celebrating her daughter’s first birthday due to religious reasons.
Serena, who has been a follower of the Jehovah’s Witness since the early 1980s, says that due to religious beliefs, her daughter Olympia, who turns one on September 1, will not be taking part in a birthday celebration of any kind.
“Olympia doesn’t celebrate birthdays,” she said. “We’re Jehovah’s Witnesses, we don’t do that.”
Those who practice the Jehovah’s Witness faith do not celebrate any holiday that is believed to have a pagan origin – such as Christmas, Easter and birthdays.
Speaking to Vogue in 2017, Serena revealed she just recently started practicing the religion, despite her mother converting years ago.
“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.
The tennis player, who is considered one of the best players in the world, credits her career success to the “Jehovah God.”
“I am Jehovah’s Witness. I think if you don’t believe in God, it’s going to be tough to live life because pretty much that’s the basis of life, it comes from God,” she told ASAP Sports back in 2002.
“Being a Jehovah’s Witness, obviously we believe in God and the Bible. And without Him, I wouldn’t be here right now. I really thank Him for everything.”
Serena shares her daughter with husband Alexis Ohanian. The two were wed back in November 2017 in New Orleans.
“Alexis didn’t grow up going to any church, but he’s really receptive and even takes the lead. He puts my needs first,” she told Vogue.