A brass band played, huge flags flew and Gov. Cuomo cut a ribbon to open the first half of the new Tappan Zee Bridge on Thursday.

Now named the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge for his father, three-time governor Mario Cuomo, the moniker is so unpopular in both Westchester and Rockland counties that Gannett’s Journal News wrote an entire article to explain that AP style requires them to call it by its official title.

But everyone else can keep calling it the Tappan Zee, which honors the local Native American tribe.

The 3.2-mile-long bridge, its eight, 419-foot tall towers, its 192-giant stay cables and 82 under piers, were lighted for several nights.

Just like the New York City bridges controlled by the state, its colors can be changed for events such as the Fourth of July.

The second part of the bridge is expected to be open by year’s end.