It was too late to postpone Christmas this year when an Australian astronomer announced that his calculations prove a bright star appeared over Bethlehem about 2,000 years ago ­— on June 17, not Dec. 25.

So Jesus was a Gemini, not a Capricorn. According to an online astrology site, “Capricorn’s most important need is security, financial and material security. They are very concerned with their public standing and their prestige,” whereas, “Gemini makes an excellent manager, they can motivate a team with their enthusiasm and vitality. They are very flighty and will disappear for a long time.” Which one fits?

If the country can change the birthdays of all U.S. Presidents to the third Monday in February — a great day to buy a car — then changing Christmas to June is a viable idea, especially for a summer resort. After all, more restaurants and stores are open.

Falling just between Bloomsday on June 16, when James Joyce fans wander around to honor Ulysses, and Juneteenth on June 19, the celebration of the end of slavery, Christmas could be an extra long holiday weekend. Since virtually all Island businesses rely on tourism, this might make everybody happy, although a few merchants didn’t see it that way.

“Christmas is Christmas and I wouldn’t change it,” said Christina Cook of the Christina Gallery. Trader Fred Mascolo said, “Christmas is like the reserve in the gas tank. It’s what gets us through January, February and March.”

But others saw it differently. “Boy, that’s a great idea,” said the Rev. Dr. Jerry Fritz, pastor of Edgartown’s Federated Church. “We’ve known (those of the clergy, wink, wink) for a long time that Dec. 25 was a bogus date. I see so many changes which would have to be made. Take some of our Christmas songs and carols — no more dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh or Frosty the Snowman or In the Bleak Mid-winter.”

“And what about Santa?” he continued. “Here on the Vineyard he’d probably arrive in a BMW or Volvo wagon instead of the traditional sleigh. Personally, my middle son could have his own birthday instead of sharing it with the baby Jesus, although if the date were June 17 that would interfere with my wife’s birthday on the 19th. With the economy being what it is, would we skip next Christmas thereby allowing everyone 18 months between this Christmas and the next on June 17, 2010? It would sure help with the holiday expenses.”

It’s not clear how Handel’s Messiah, which was first performed during Lent and has more to do with Easter than Christmas, ended up as Christmas music, especially since the Hallelujah chorus falls in the Easter section. It’s also not clear why King George II stood at the start of the chorus ­— some say his gout was bothering him, some that he had just been awakened by the loud music — but it required that all his subjects stand and audiences have been standing ever since.

Standing could create a pleasant breeze on a warm June day. And technically, June 17 falls in spring, as does Easter, so that will straighten out the Messiah problem.

An a cappella Christmas concert by the Minnesingers, joined by the Vineyard Sound, could be a nice way to end the school year.

The Colbert Report’s image of Santa in a bikini notwithstanding, the idea has some merit. It’s easy to imagine a Christmas clambake at the beach with chestnuts roasting on an open fire.