New Year's celebration in Japan centers around the belief that at the end of the year Toshigami [god of the new year] visits every house, bringing blessings to them. After osoji [cleaning everything to get rid of the old year] is completed, very near the end of the year, kadomatsu [New Year's decorations made up of evergreen tree sprigs and bamboo] are put up at the gates of the houses. Shimekazari [sacred straw festoons] are hung above the front door to mark the temporary abode of the toshigami and to keep evil spirits away.