Serena Williams reveals why she will not celebrate daughter's first birthday
On Saturday, September 1, it would be exactly one year since tennis champion, Serena Williams, gave birth to her daughter, but unlike most children, Olympia will not be celebrating the milestone.
Williams told reporters at a press conference for the U.S. Open that there was no party planned for the little one’s birthday. She explained:
“Olympia doesn’t celebrate birthdays. We’re Jehovah’s Witnesses, so we don’t do that.”
The 36-year-old spoke about her faith last year and confirmed that her husband, Alexis Ohanian, was on board with her:
“Being a Jehovah’s Witness is important to me, but I’ve never really practiced it and have been wanting to get into it.”
“Alexis didn’t grow up going to any church, but he’s really receptive and even takes the lead. He puts my needs first.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses are a Christian group that does not celebrate birthdays because of the belief that it is displeasing to god. According to their website:
“Although the Bible does not explicitly forbid celebrating birthdays, it does help us to reason on key features of these events and understand God’s view of them.”
Jehovah’s witnesses contend that:
“Birthday celebrations have pagan roots;
The early Christians did not celebrate birthdays;
The only commemoration that Christians are required to keep involves, not a birth, but a death—that of Jesus;
The Bible never refers to a servant of God celebrating a birthday.”
The group also does not celebrate Christmas, Easter, and national holidays. One of their most controversial beliefs, however, is that God forbids blood transfusion.
Whatever the case, Williams and Ohanian seem resolute to comply with their beliefs and will not be holding any form of celebration for Olympia.
There is no doubt, though, that the curly-haired tot is fiercely loved by her parents. A quick look at their social media is all it takes to convince anyone that Williams and Ohanian are obsessed with her.
Meanwhile, doting mom, Serena Williams, scored a big win against Magda Linette in the first round of the U.S. Open last Monday.