Road separates girls and boys

"Could it be something in the air?" the mothers of Hornindal ask. Below the road only girls are born, above it, only boys. The last born, a boy, follows the tradition, and lives above the road.

The phenomenon is special. While below the road you find long hair, pink colours and dresses, you find blue shirts and short boy's hair above the road. The theories about the reason are many.

-Different theories
Earlier it has been speculated in both the water and the father's professions. An old saying claims the explanation of the sex of the children lies in the love act itself;

"inn og ut så vert det gut, inn og vente, så vert det jente".

- "in and out it's a boy, in and wait, it's a girl".

But the mothers of Hornindal only laugh at the questions of what they believe to be the reason.
"It has to be something in the mountain air that is different on the north- and the south side" they joke.

- A fight about the boys
There are certainly more girls than boys, it's 12 to 4. Standing by the road waiting for the bus has been the biggest problem for the boy-side, but now there are two in school age so it's getting better.
"A luxury problem for the boys" one of the fathers states and smirks.
"Yes, it could turn into a fight for the boys" a mother answers.
"They can risk having to go out several times a week" they laugh.

The last born follows the rule
None of the mothers confirm they expect more kids, but think they have been reasonably productive.
"Those with only two should get a few more" thinks one of the mothers of three. They assume the tradition will keep. The last born had the right sex. In the push chair lies a little baby boy, completely oblivious to what awaits him as the fourth boy on the boy-side, versus the three times as many girls across the road. If there, in spite of everything, should come a boy on the girl-side, or the other way round, it will almost be a sensation.

Vibeke Rand
Fjordingen, 08.08.05

Things do happen in this town...
Please excuse the hopeless language in the text, translation is not my strong side.