Who is Honza?
Honza is a very common Czech name which may be informally used interchangeably with Jan (English: John). It comes from German Johann(es) → Hans → Honza. Possible diminutives are Honzík or Honzíček. In Czech every Jan can be called Honza. In fact, virtually no Jan is called Jan by friends - usually Honza or Jenda is used. Honza may be translated as John. Honza is often a Czech fairy tale hero, sometimes called Hloupý Honza (Dull Honza), Líný Honza (Lazy Honza) or Chudý Honza (Poor Honza). In original uses, Líný Honza is the lazy and inept son of village farmers. His parents send him "to the world" to take care of himself and get experience. On his way, he meets seemingly impossible obstacles (often involving a dragon) but outsmarts them all and returns home with fame, riches and a princess as his wife. While sometimes called Hloupý Honza (Dull Honza), he is not really dull and in more modern fairy tales he often loses other negative characteristics too. Such figures be...
