India, Dec. 16 -- The holiday season has arrived early on Reddit, thanks to a chaotic new optical illusion posted by u/Quirkynator in the popular r/FindTheSniper community. The post, titled "SANTA JUST LOST HIS RED HAT AND CHRISTMAS IS CANCELED UNLESS WE FIND IT RIGHT NOW," presents a colourful Christmas scene filled with red-and-white elves, candy canes, gifts, and a giant tree, but Santa's iconic red hat has mysteriously disappeared.

Users were challenged to find it quickly before "Christmas is canceled," as the post jokes. Labeled medium difficulty, the puzzle has still proven surprisingly tricky because of how similar every elf looks at first glance.

The picture is packed tightly with dozens of cartoon elves wearing striped hats, ma...