MICHAEL JACKSON’s mother KATHERINE refused to bury him on his birthday because it went against her religious beliefs, according to the singer’s brother MARLON.

After weeks of speculation about the King of Pop’s final resting place, it was reported he would be buried on what would have been his 51st birthday (29Aug09) in a mausoleum at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

It then emerged the Jackson family had changed the date so they could have more time to plan the burial service.

But Marlon insists his brother’s interment was postponed because 79-year-old Katherine refused to give any significance to the day, in accordance with her Jehovah’s Witness faith, which does not recognise birthdays as they are believed to be rooted in pagan celebrations.

He tells Britain’s Sunday Mirror, “I wanted to lay him to rest on the day the Lord created him. But my mother really didn’t want to bury him on that day.”

According to Marlon, Michael will now be buried in a sunset ceremony on Thursday (03Aug09) in the Holly Terrace Grand Mausoleum at Forest Lawn, where Aretha Franklin is expected to sing.

Marlon adds, “This will be a private ceremony. This will be Michael’s final curtain call - the last show. His shell will be gone but his spirit lives on.”