Love has many languages, and so does St. Valentine’s Day. From heart‑covered school classrooms in the United States to candlelit dinners in Italy and cherry blossoms in Prague, February celebrations of love look very different around the world. Yet they all share the same idea: taking a moment to say “I love you”, preferably over something delicious.
At Papaiolo, where Italian traditions meet the heart of Prague, St. Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion to bring these worlds together with a special Valentine’s menu inspired by Italy, shaped by our Prague home, and welcoming to guests from everywhere.
Where It All Began: The Story of St. Valentine
Valentine’s Day traces its roots back to the Roman Empire. Several martyrs named Valentine are associated with the date, but the most widely accepted story points to San Valentino, a bishop from Terni in Umbria (now Italy), who secretly married couples against imperial orders and was martyred on February 14.
The Church later established his feast day in the 5th century, partly to replace the pagan fertility festival Lupercalia, once celebrated in mid‑February. Over time, poets like Chaucer and Shakespeare wrapped this feast in romance, and in the 20th century companies like Hallmark helped turn it into the modern holiday of cards, chocolates, and dates.
How they do Valentine’s in the US: cards, candy, everything
In the United States, Valentine’s Day is basically love on steroids. It’s not just for couples, kids celebrate it at school, colleagues bring cupcakes to the office, and shops start exploding with pink hearts as soon as Christmas is over.
At school, kids decorate little boxes and swap valentines with the whole class, usually with a tiny candy attached.
Adults go for flowers, chocolate, dinner dates, and sometimes something shiny in a little jewelry box.
And yes, those pastel “conversation hearts” with messages like “Be Mine” or “Call Me” are real, and Americans actually eat them.
It’s big, loud, very commercial but also kind of sweet. Everyone gets at least a tiny reminder that someone thought of them.
San Valentino in Italy: all about gli innamorati
Italy plays a different game. There, San Valentino is mainly for couples: la festa degli innamorati. No classroom card marathons, no “to my favorite coworker” cards. Just you, your person, and something romantic:
Dinner by candlelight, either at home or in a cozy restaurant.
Flowers (red roses, of course) and proper chocolate, think Baci Perugina with little love messages inside.
In some cities, couples still attach “love locks” to bridges and toss the key into the river as a sign of unbreakable love.
In Terni, the town of Saint Valentine himself, there’s even a blessing of couples in the basilica, old‑school romance at its finest.
Czech Republic: between St. Valentine and May 1st
Here in Czechia, Valentine’s Day is kind of the new kid on the block. The real traditional “day of love” has always been May 1st, when couples kiss under a blossoming cherry tree for luck and love.
But February 14th is slowly finding its place:
Younger people are totally on board with flowers, chocolate, and date nights.
Shops and restaurants in Prague offer Valentine’s specials.
And fun fact: at Vyšehrad you can actually find a relic said to belong to St. Valentine, so Prague has a legit connection to the saint.
So yes, Czechs can celebrate twice: one romantic evening in February and one under the cherry trees in May. Not a bad deal.
Valentine’s at Papaiolo: Naples Meets Prague
At Papaiolo, Valentine’s Day is all about sharing something beautiful together, literally. For one night only on 14 February 2026, a special Valentine’s menu for two built around our heart‑shaped Neapolitan pizza is served.
You and your date can enjoy two pizzas in the shape of a heart, chosen from the Valentine’s selection, baked in our wood‑fired oven and made for sharing. To toast the evening, the menu includes a bottle of premium Prosecco Podere Dei Nidran DOC and mineral water, so you can celebrate like in Italy right in the center of Prague.
For the sweet part of the night, you’ll share a panna cotta made with real vanilla, served inside a chocolate heart, created for two people. Every lady also receives a red rose, because some traditions should never go out of style.
All of this – two heart pizzas, a bottle of Prosecco, water, dessert for two and a rose – is available only on 14 February for 1,250 CZK per couple, with limited capacity and reservations required online - book here. It’s the way of turning one evening in Prague into a little slice of Naples, filled with good food, bubbles, and a lot of amore.
Christina Rebuffet: “Valentine’s Day in the USA – American customs & traditions.”
Wikipedia: “Valentine’s Day.”
Sightseeing Experience: “Valentine’s Day traditions in Italy: from the origins to modern days.”
My Corner of Italy: “Saint Valentine’s Day in Italy.”
The Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere: “Valentine’s Day Traditions in Italy.”
Radio Prague International: “Do Czechs prefer Valentine’s Day to May 1st?”
Mendel University: “1st of May – Czech Valentine’s Day.”
