noun
celebratory drinking snack; festive accompaniment to alcohol
Specifically a food served with drinks at celebrations, especially New Year's. The term combines 祝い (celebration) and 肴 (snack for alcohol).
See also: 酒の肴
お正月には祝い肴として数の子や田作りを用意します。
For New Year's, we prepare herring roe and candied sardines as celebratory drinking snacks.
この祝い肴は日本酒によく合います。
This festive snack goes well with sake.
肴 is a general term for a snack eaten while drinking, whereas 祝い肴 specifically refers to such snacks served at celebratory occasions.
おつまみ is a casual, everyday term for drinking snacks, while 祝い肴 is formal and tied to celebrations.
Compound of 祝い (celebration) and 肴 (snack for alcohol). The exact historical origin is uncertain, but the term is conventionally associated with festive drinking foods.