Black and gold all over

Fans wore fake beards in honor of the Bruins’ playoff facial hair, lofted their own Stanley Cups made of buckets and duct tape, and painted spoked B’s on cheeks, chests, and fingernails.

The euphoric outpouring marked the return of the Bruins to hockey glory and the city’s emergence as “Titletown’’ — the only city to win championships in all four major sports within a 10-year span. Once inevitably described as long-suffering or cursed, Boston was back.

“This is so exciting,’’ said Mary McDade, a 49-year-old artist who snapped a photo with her cellphone as the coveted cup, held aloft by Bruins captain Zdeno Chara, passed her on Staniford Street. “I didn’t know there were this many people in Boston, but we do love our Bruins.’’

Though victory parades are by now a familiar ritual in the city, yesterday’s was filled with spontaneous moments.

Patrice Bergeron received at least three marriage proposals. Brad Marchand rapped along to Wiz Khalifa’s “Black and Yellow.’’ Chara marched with the Stanley Cup along the street, allowing a lucky few to run their fingers along the gleaming trophy. Before the parade even started, Chara arrived at the Garden on a bicycle, just a regular Joe at the top of his sport.

Tim Thomas, meanwhile, solidified his transformation from journeyman goalie to local legend, waving calmly to ecstatic crowds and brandishing the Conn Smythe Trophy he earned as the most valuable player in the playoffs.

“Thank you for your hard work,’’ Matt Westling, a 27-year-old from Lexington, shouted as Thomas rolled past him on a duck boat. “We appreciate it so much.’’ Moments later, Westling hugged his friends, near tears. “Amazing,’’ he said.

Police, who estimated Friday that 1 million people would attend the rally, did not provide a crowd estimate, and would not compare the multitudes to those who turned out for the Red Sox, Celtics, and Patriots’ rallies. But many of the fans who attended those celebrations said this one felt like the biggest yet.