Editing Salmon (section)

==Mythology==
The salmon is an important creature in several strands of [[Celtic mythology]] and poetry, which often associated them with wisdom and venerability. In Irish folklore, fishermen associated salmon with fairies and thought it was unlucky to refer to them by name.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ní Fhloinn|first=Bairbre|title=Cold Iron Aspects of the occupational lore of Irish fishermen|publisher=University College Dublin|year=2018|isbn=978-0-9565628-7-6|pages=105–123}}</ref> In [[Irish mythology]], a creature called the [[Salmon of Knowledge]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.luminarium.org/mythology/ireland/salmonknowledge.htm | title = The Salmon of Knowledge. Celtic Mythology, Fairy Tale | publisher = Luminarium.org | date = 18 January 2007 | access-date = 1 June 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181116183933/http://www.luminarium.org/mythology/ireland/salmonknowledge.htm | archive-date = 16 November 2018 | url-status = live}}</ref> plays key role in the tale ''[[The Boyhood Deeds of Fionn]]''. In the tale, the Salmon will grant powers of knowledge to whoever eats it, and is sought by poet [[Finn Eces]] for seven years. Finally Finn Eces catches the fish and gives it to his young pupil, [[Fionn mac Cumhaill]], to prepare it for him. However, Fionn burns his thumb on the salmon's juices, and he instinctively puts it in his mouth. In so doing, he inadvertently gains the Salmon's wisdom. Elsewhere in Irish mythology, the salmon is also one of the incarnations of both [[Tuan mac Cairill]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/tuan.html | title = The Story of Tuan mac Cairill | publisher = Maryjones.us | access-date = 18 March 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100327224754/http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/tuan.html | archive-date = 27 March 2010 | url-status = dead }}</ref> and [[Fintan mac Bóchra]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://celt.ucc.ie//published/G109001/index.html | title = The Colloquy between Fintan and the Hawk of Achill | publisher = Ucc.ie | access-date = 18 March 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181231091226/https://celt.ucc.ie/published/G109001/index.html | archive-date = 31 December 2018 | url-status = live}}</ref>

Salmon also feature in [[Welsh mythology]]. In the prose tale ''[[Culhwch and Olwen]]'', the Salmon of Llyn Llyw is the oldest animal in Britain, and the only creature who knows the location of [[Mabon ap Modron]]. After speaking to a string of other ancient animals who do not know his whereabouts, [[King Arthur]]'s men [[Sir Kay|Cai]] and [[Bedivere|Bedwyr]] are led to the Salmon of Llyn Llyw, who lets them ride its back to the walls of Mabon's prison in [[Gloucester]].<ref>{{cite web | last1 = Parker | first1 = Will | title = Culhwch ac Olwen: A translation of the oldest Arthurian tale | url = http://www.culhwch.info/ | website = Culhwch ac Olwen | access-date = 17 January 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181116154509/http://www.culhwch.info/ | archive-date = 16 November 2018 | url-status = live}}</ref>

In [[Norse mythology]], after [[Loki]] tricked the blind god [[Höðr]] into killing his brother [[Baldr]], Loki jumped into a river and transformed himself into a salmon to escape punishment from the other [[Æsir|gods]]. When they held out a net to trap him he attempted to leap over it but was caught by [[Thor]] who grabbed him by the tail with his hand, and this is why the salmon's tail is tapered.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/poe/poe10.htm | title = The Poetic Edda | translator = Henry Adams Bellows | access-date = 27 April 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190506071029/http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/poe/poe10.htm | archive-date = 6 May 2019 | url-status = live}}</ref>

Salmon are central spiritually and culturally to [[Native American mythology]] on the Pacific coast, from the [[Haida people|Haida]] and [[Coast Salish]] peoples, to the [[Nuu-chah-nulth people]]s in [[British Columbia]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Tribal Salmon Culture: Salmon Culture of the Pacific Northwest Tribes | url = http://www.critfc.org/salmon-culture/tribal-salmon-culture/ | publisher = Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190513060812/https://www.critfc.org/salmon-culture/tribal-salmon-culture/ | archive-date = 13 May 2019 | url-status = live}}</ref>