Nepal hopeful after first official Christmas

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/nepal.hopeful.after.first.official.christmas/22203.htm

[Christianity Today UK] 26 Dec 2008--Nepal celebrated its first Christmas ever after being declared a federal republic in December 2007.

The first church was built in Nepal just 50 years ago, under monarchial rule and although there are over 200 churches and at least 400,000 Christians today, the small Christian community has often faced repression in the past.

This year's Christmas ushered in a new era for the largely Hindu and Buddhist country, with the government even declaring December 25 a public holiday.

With Christians making up only 0.5 per cent of the population, many saw the government's move as a positive indication that the long-awaited day of freedom has come.