Which of the following practices is traditionally associated with protecting the dead from becoming vampires?

The practice traditionally associated with protecting the dead from becoming vampires is apotropaic observances. Apotropaic actions are conducted to ward off evil or to protect against malevolent supernatural entities, including vampires. These practices include rituals, symbols, and items that serve as protective measures, often placed in graves or near corpses to prevent them from rising as undead beings.

While funeral rites serve to honor the deceased and provide them a proper send-off, they do not specifically focus on preventing vampirism. Honoring ancestors is crucial in many cultures as it maintains connections and respects lineage, but it does not inherently involve protective measures against vampirism. Similarly, grave offerings are typically left as gifts to honor the dead or ensure their comfort in the afterlife, rather than specifically aimed at preventing the transformation of the deceased into a vampire.