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When Kim and Kanye’s daughter North West turned one, they threw her a Kidchella-themed birthday party; complete with a Ferris wheel, karaoke stage and designer flower crowns. For Blue Ivy’s first birthday, Beyoncé and Jay Z gifted their daughter a custom-made $80,000 diamond encrusted Barbie (and spent $2,400 on her cake). And at Harper Beckham’s first birthday party, Victoria and David reportedly hired special dyed-pink rabbits to match the pink balloons and cupcakes.
Unlike her fellow celebrities, tennis champion Serena Williams will not be throwing an elaborate party for her daughter Olympia’s first birthday on the weekend.
At a press conference earlier this week, Williams explained she and husband Alexis Ohanian would not be celebrating on September 1 because it goes against their religious beliefs as Jehovah’s Witnesses.
A reported asked: “Is there a birthday party planned [for Olympia]?” And Williams replied, “Olympia doesn’t celebrate birthdays. We’re Jehovah’s Witnesses so we don’t do that.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe God is the Creator and Supreme Being and his son Jesus Christ rules invisibly from heaven using “signs.” They do not celebrate birthdays, Christmas, Easter or other holidays – and they remain politically neutral.
Williams has spoken about her religion in the past, telling Vogue US, “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.”
