Finn gained all wisdom by accidentally tasting the Salmon of Knowledge

Evidence

There was a magical Salmon that swam in a deep pool of the River Boyne, beneath a grove of nine hazel trees. The hazelnuts that dropped into the pool held all the knowledge in the world, and the Salmon had eaten them — so that whoever ate the Salmon of Knowledge would gain, in a single instant, all the wisdom and knowledge that exists. … The boy Finn roasted the great Salmon carefully over the fire. As it cooked, a blister rose on the fish’s skin, and Finn, meaning to be helpful, pressed it down with his thumb to smooth it — and burned his thumb on the hot, blistering juice. Instantly, without thinking, the boy put his burnt thumb into his mouth to soothe it — and so, by pure accident, the very first taste of the Salmon of Knowledge passed Finn’s lips. — , A Year of World Stories, 14412

Categorization

• XREF: The hazelnuts-of-knowledge motif resembles Indo-European sacred tree/wisdom traditions and Odin’s acquisition of knowledge.