The curse you are referring to is first placed when Elya Yelnats seeks help from Madame Zeroni in order to win the love of an incompetent local girl, Myra Menke. Zeroni tells Elya to carry a piglet up the mountain every day and to allow it to drink from a special stream while singing to it—a feat which will make the pig grow larger and create strength in Elya. At the end of this process, Elya is supposed to exchange the pig for Myra's hand in marriage and then thank Zeroni by carrying her up the mountain to drink from the stream.
The curse is lifted several generations later when Stanley carries Zero up to the Big Thumb, resolving the failure of Elya (Stanley's great-great-great grandfather) to carry Madame Zeroni (Zero's ancestor) up the mountain. On the top of the mountain, Stanley and Zero eat onions and discover water sourced from the spring, which they drink from. Stanley also sings to Zero Zeroni's song.
By carrying out this task and negating Elya's own misdeed, Stanley restores luck to his family and causes them to suddenly accrue wealth in the form of the suitcase labeled "Stanley Yelnats," which contains the jewelry and other treasures that had previously been stolen from his ancestor.
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