The New York Giants on Tuesday celebrated their Super Bowl XLVI victory with a massive ticker-tape parade that filled the streets of Lower Manhattan.

Just like they did after their last Super Bowl win against New England in 2008, the team rode a wave of cheers as they made their way up the Canyon of Heroes.

About one million fans cheered on MVP quarterback Eli Manning, who was joined on the float by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor Andrew Cuomo.

The route started at Battery Place and Washington Street and headed up Broadway to Worth Street, then down Worth to Lafayette and Duane Streets.

"It was so exciting, and the best thing ever I saw my favorite player Eli Manning," said one Giants fan.

"This parade was awesome. It was the best thing I've ever experienced. I've never been to a Giants parade. It was fantastic," said another fan.

This is the second time in four years the Giants beat out the Patriots for the Lombardi trophy.

The city expects several tons of recycled confetti was tossed from at least 20 downtown office buildings. However, sanitation workers immediately worked to clear the massive piles of festive paper that rained down on Big Blue.

"We were right behind it. And we have people positioned all the way along the parade route as they passed. They'll come in and start cleaning it up right away," said one sanitation worker.

It's believed the first ticker-tape parade occurred during a celebration for the Statue of Liberty in 1886.

There have been celebrations for national figures like Charles Lindburgh in 1927, and the returning Iranian hostages in 1981.

More recently, the Canyon of Heroes ticker-tape parade celebrated championship sports teams like the New York Rangers in 1994.

Immediately following Tuesday's parade, team members gathered at City Hall where Mayor Michael Bloomberg presented them with keys to the city.

"We are here today because this team of Giants believed in each other and because you believed in them," Bloomberg told the crowd.

"Thank you to all our fans, all our supporters, everybody out there that believed in us, and believed in this team. We never lost faith in ourselves and congratulations to all of you," said Manning.

"All things are possible for those who believe. We always believed, we always knew we could get here. We had to put it together and it's a great credit to the coaches who did a magnificent job and to our players," said Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin.

The ceremony outside City Hall also featured an impromptu musical interlude as players chanted, "I got a ring, I got a ring."

After the team was honored in the city, the celebration moved across the Hudson River to MetLife Stadium, ending with a rally hosted by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

Meantime, Mayor Bloomberg is looking to cash in on a Super Bowl bet made with Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.

That means one lucky New Yorker and three friends will win a Super Tour of Boston.

Starting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, city residents 18 years or older can enter to win a weekend away.

It includes four round-trip tickets on JetBlue, a stay at the Ritz Carlton, dinners, box seats to a Bruins or Celtics game and city tours.

Sweepstakes entries are being accepted through the city's website, nyc.gov, or by calling
311 or texting 311692.

The contest runs through 9:45 a.m. Friday.

Obama Congratulates Giants

President Barack Obama had high praise for the Giants Tuesday.

"I want to congratulate the New York Giants and all their fans. I just talked to coach Coughlin. I'm looking forward to having the Giants here at the White House so we can celebrate their achievements," said Obama.

"I had the honor of speaking to President Obama as we traveled over here this morning. He was very gracious. He praised our football team. He praised our mental toughness, our resiliency, our leadership," said Giants head coach Tom Coughlin.

The Giants were also invited to Washington four years ago by President George W. Bush.

There is no word yet on when the Giants will visit the White House this year.

Giants Parade Pictures