What was the significance of placing a funeral wreath on a coffin in pagan times?

A. protecting the body from demons
B. warding off spirits hovering around the body
C. a religious custom
D. keeping the dead person's spirit from harming the living
E. keeping the dead person's spirit within bounds

E. keeping the dead person's spirit within bounds

Pagan beliefs concerning funeral wreaths held that the circle formed by the wreath would keep the dead person's spirit within bounds. The firing of a rifle volley over the deceased is similar to the tribal practice of throwing spears into the air to ward off spirits hovering over the deceased. In the past, holy water was sprinkled on the body to protect it from demons.